Kentucky – A Kentucky man was taken into custody and charged after authorities say his chiId died from injuries inconsistent with a faII. The 24-year-old defendant, L. Gartner, faces charges that include murder, first-degree chiId abuse and assauIt, and he was arraigned with bond set at $1 million and a no-contact order for minors.
Officers responded just after 3 p.m. on Tuesday to the Kentucky home following a 911 call reporting that a child had suffered traumatic injuries in a faII. Paramedics transported the 5-year-old to the Children’s Hospital, where he died the following day. Emergency responders and hospital personnel told investigators the child’s injuries did not match a simple fall, which prompted a homicide investigation by the Police Department’s Homicide Unit.
Kentucky authorities say a forensic examination found severe injuries in multiple areas of the child’s body that were consistent with an assault. Police allege the parent assauIted the chiId and then pushed him down a fIight of stairs. The case file and law enforcement statements indicate the parent was alone in the home with the 5-year-old and the child’s 4-year-old sister at the time of the incident.
Police said the 5-year-old victim, EIious, suffered fatal injuries after his father allegedly attacked him inside their Kentucky home. Investigators determined the boy’s wounds were not consistent with a fall, as first reported to 911 dispatchers. An autopsy showed severe trauma to several areas of his body. The victim’s younger sister, who was in the house at the time, later told authorities she saw the parent kick, sIam, and bite her sibIing before pushing him down the stairs. Her account became a key part of the case, helping detectives establish that the child’s death was the result of an assault rather than an accident.
When officers and EMS arrived, the younger sibling also told them that the parent had kicked her in the chest while she was lying on the floor. That statement was included in police reports and was relayed publicly by local news outlets covering the investigation and subsequent arrest. Authorities have said the sister’s account helped shift the inquiry from an accidental fall to a suspected assault.
Police say the parent initially reported that the child had fallen down the stairs, but emergency personnel at the scene and later investigators concluded the injuries were inconsistent with that account. Forensic evidence and the victim statements led detectives to arrest the man on the new charges. Kentucky authorities placed the man in custody and the case was turned over to prosecutors for charging decisions.
Family members have spoken publicly about the child and the shock of the loss. Relatives described the boy as playful and protective of his sister, and they have set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. Community members and the child’s family said they were seeking answers and justice as the investigation continues. Local media reported the family’s grief and calls for the defendant to remain detained.
Kentucky authorities said the investigation remains active. Detectives are continuing to gather and review forensic findings, witness statements and any available video or physical evidence from the home. Prosecutors will review the evidence compiled by the Police Department’s Homicide Unit as they prepare for the next court dates; He is expected back in court on Sept. 15, according to court records cited in news reports.
Kentucky authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to contact the department. The department also noted that investigators work with forensic specialists and child-abuse experts in cases involving young victims to ensure evidence is properly collected and that statements from minor witnesses are handled by trained personnel. Officials have asked the public and media to let the legal process unfold so that prosecutors can pursue appropriate charges based on evidence.