A 2-year-old Missouri boy who died Monday had reportedly been strangled and sexually assaulted.
Nicco Cotton, 21, turned himself in on Thursday, days after Bre’Yon Wells was hospitalized in St. Louis for asphyxial and abdominal injuries, in addition to injuries consistent with sexual assault. KSDK reported that Cotton confessed to biting, sexually assaulting, and strangling Wells, who ultimately died.
The medical examiner’s office confirmed Wells was strangled and sexually assaulted and ruled his death a homicide, according to KTVI.
St. Louis Metro police said Cotton is Wells’ mother’s close friend or boyfriend. KMOV reported that Wells was left in Cotton’s care.
Wells’ mother told the news outlet that she left her son with someone she trusted while she did a 10-hour shift. She claimed she finished work to learn her son was seriously injured.
“I feel like my baby was put in positions he shouldn’t have been in because his mom didn’t have much support in life and no one to be there for her,” the mother said.
Cotton is charged with second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy, and statutory sodomy. He remains jailed without bond.
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[Feature Photo: KMOV]
