Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

Woman charged in beating death of child

SUMMERVILLE - A 23-year-old woman has been charged after authorities say she beat a child in her care to death.

It was reported Thursday that Erica Butts has been charged with homicide by child abuse.

Authorities said they found the toddler unresponsive Tuesday night at a Summerville subdivision. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Butts was charged after authorities said an autopsy showed the girl died from full body trauma.

The baby had not been identified, but authorities said her mother was in Michigan and was raising money to return to South Carolina. Authorities said Butts and the girl were not related.

Butts was being held at the Charleston County jail awaiting a bail hearing.

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