PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Chester couple has been arrested and charged with beating their 2-year-old child to death.
According to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, 33-year-old Cynthia Robinson allegedly beat her 2-year-old son to death in November of last year, while 57-year-old Frank Walton Sr. allegedly prevented medical intervention to hide the abuse.
Police responded to their Chester home for a report of an unresponsive child in cardiac arrest, with possible head trauma. The toddler was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Officials said Robinson initially blamed the boy’s death on one of her other children, but investigators said that was “factually impossible.”
"It's horrific. The child died of blunt force trauma both to his head and his abdomen. And what that means is that he was beaten all over his body. There were vital organs that were lacerated, they were injured, there were fractures on his face and to his ribs," said Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse.
Detectives later learned that Robinson had a history of abusing her children, officials said, and she was on supervision for charges that she used drugs with children present.
Robinson faces nearly 20 charges, including first- and third-degree murder and endangering the welfare of children. Walton faces 15 charges, including third-degree murder. He has a preliminary arraignment scheduled for April 28.
“The allegations in this case are both heartbreaking and deeply troubling,” District Attorney Tanner Rouse said in a statement. “A child lost their life at the hands of those who had a fundamental responsibility to love, protect, and care for them.”
The investigation is ongoing.
Investigators say they tried to cover up the abuse
Investigators say they tried to cover up the abuse
