According to the Kern County Sheriff's Office, on Jan. 26 an autopsy was performed on three-year-old Trinity Monique Hanna. Sheriff's officials said the coroner determined the cause of the girl's death was a homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the girl's head and abdomen.
Based on additional information and evidence obtained as a result of the autopsy and ongoing investigation into the death of Hanna, sheriff's officials said 26-year-old Eric Edward Foster -- the live-in boyfriend of the girl's mother, Angela Vickrey -- was charged with murder on Jan. 26.
Sheriff's spokesman Ray Pruitt told KERO the girl had suspicious injuries when brought in Tuesday to San Joaquin Community Hospital. "Detectives were able to develop probable cause, which led them to believe that Eric Foster was responsible for the injuries sustained by the little girl," he said.
Foster was originally arrested Jan. 25 at Sheriff’s Office headquarters for three counts of felony corporal injury to a child, three counts of felony child abuse, one count of torture, and one count of aggravated mayhem.
He was booked into the Kern County Jail Central Receiving Facility.
Officials said on Jan. 24 at about 7:45 p.m., deputies were dispatched to San Joaquin Hospital regarding suspicious circumstances involving the death of Hanna. The child had been transported by her Vickrey to San Joaquin Hospital from her home in Taft for medical treatment. During treatment, hospital staff noticed obvious signs of trauma to the child, which appeared suspicious, officials said.
The child was unresponsive, and hospital staff attempted unsuccessfully to resuscitate Hanna, who died at the hospital.
Detectives responded to the hospital and initiated a homicide investigation.
Officials said detectives were able to determine Hanna had been living with Vickrey and Foster at a home in the 200 block of Oak Street in Taft prior to her death. During the investigation, detectives were able to develop probable cause, believing Foster slayed Hanna. Officials gave no details as to how Hanna may have been abused by Foster.
Vickrey hasn't been charged in the case. Pruitt said there could be charges at some point if it is determined Vickrey willingly put her child in harm's way with Foster. Pruitt also said Vickrey has been cooperative and currently faces no charges. "We have spoken to the victim's mother. She is considered a witness at this point. She has been cooperative," he said.
The investigation is ongoing.
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Related article: Death Of 3-Year-Old Girl Suspicious
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