In spanking death of girl, 3, Arkansas man held

A 3-year-old girl died Wednesday after being taken to a hospital with injuries that were the result of a spanking from her mother's boyfriend, according to the Chicot County sheriff's office.

Journee Orji, 3, was taken to an area hospital shortly after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the sheriff's office said Thursday in a Facebook post.

Deputies interviewed the child's mother, a Lake Village resident, who said her boyfriend, Jeffrey Tucker, had spanked the girl earlier that day.

Tucker was arrested in Eudora about 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to the sheriff's office. The child was taken to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock where she died from her injuries about 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to the sheriff's office.

Tucker, 28, was charged Thursday morning with capital murder, the post stated.

Records show he was being held Thursday afternoon at the Jefferson County jail in Pine Bluff. No bail had been set.

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State Desk on 11/04/2017

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