The toddler died at a Louisiana hospital on Aug. 13 after suffering “significant injuries,” including internal bleeding and head trauma

NEED TO KNOW

• Louisiana resident Bernard JR Fleander was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 3-year-old Belle Rose girl in his care on Aug. 13
• Authorities said the toddler was beaten during potty training and suffered internal injuries and massive head injuries
• Fleander remains in custody as the investigation continues

A Louisiana man was arrested after allegedly beating a toddler to death while she was potty training.

On Thursday, Aug. 13, Bernard JR Fleander was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 3-year-old girl from Belle Rose, the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO) announced in an Aug. 14 news release.

Fleander, 26, brought the toddler — whom authorities did not identify — to a hospital in Napoleonville in the early hours of Thursday. She was unresponsive upon arrival and died shortly after, after life-saving measures were unsuccessful, per the APSO.

Deputies with the sheriff’s office were dispatched to the hospital around 3:20 a.m. and started an investigation into the girl’s death.

APSO observed “significant injuries” throughout her body.

The toddler had suffered internal bleeding and other internal injuries, as well as massive head injuries, CBS affiliate WAFB reported, citing deputies. Her manner of death was classified as homicide following an autopsy, and Fleander was detained as part of the deputies’ investigation. 

She had been beaten during potty training at Fleander’s Belle Rose home, according to the outlet and the sheriff’s office. 

Fleander “is not the biological father of the deceased child,” but the girl was in his care along with other children, the APSO said. One of the other children in Fleander’s care drove him to the hospital with the injured toddler, WAFB reported.

Detectives executed a search warrant at his home and interviewed witnesses who were present at the home at the time of the incident, per the APSO. 

He was subsequently arrested on Thursday afternoon on one felony count of first-degree murder, as well as failure to appear for simple battery.

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He was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center, where he remains as of Saturday, Aug. 15, pending a bond hearing.

It is unclear whether Fleander has obtained legal representation.

The investigation is ongoing, the APSO said, noting that “no additional arrests are anticipated.”

PEOPLE has reached out to the APSO for additional comment.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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