Man charged in death of 4-year-old girl in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Police say a Pennsylvania man is charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect in a 4-year-old girl’s death.
Memphis police said 24-year-old Richard Lassiter was an acquaintance of a woman who flagged down officers at a motel on Thursday and told them her daughter was unresponsive.
A police affidavit filed Friday says paramedics found the girl had severe bruises on her face, chest and back.
Police said Lassiter told officers he slapped the girl and she hit her face on a refrigerator, causing a cut over her left eye. The affidavit said Lassiter told police he hit her because she had awoken a sibling.
Police say they do not know how long they had been staying at the motel.
Court records do not show if Lassiter has a lawyer.
