A 3-year-old girl died Wednesday after being taken to an Arkansas hospital with injuries that were the result of a spanking from her mother's boyfriend, authorities said.
According to a Facebook post from the Chicot County sheriff's office, 3-year-old Journee Orji was taken to an area hospital shortly after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Deputies interviewed the child's mother, a Lake Village resident, who said that her boyfriend, Jeffrey Tucker, had spanked the girl earlier that day.
Tucker was reportedly arrested in Eudora about 11 p.m. Tuesday night. The 3-year-old was taken to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock and died from her injuries about 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to the sheriff's office.
Tucker, 28, appeared in a probable cause hearing Thursday morning, where he was charged with capital murder, the post stated.
Records show he was being held at the Jefferson County jail as of Thursday afternoon. No bail had been set.
