Bail has been set at $2 million for a Maplewood man charged with second degree murder in one of the worst cases of child abuse investigators have ever seen.
Terrance Leslie, 26, appeared in court Friday on the murder charge. According to the criminal complaint, Leslie allegedly assaulted his girlfriend's 17-month old daughter repeatedly, and recorded some of the abuse on his phone.
Police were called to an apartment on County Road B Tuesday night on a report of a toddler with significant injuries.
“In my 22 years of law enforcement experience, I’ve never investigated a crime more disturbing or more heinous than this murder,” said Maplewood Lieutenant Joe Steiner.
(Warning: Some details may be disturbing)
In details provided by Maplewood Police, the emergency room physician advised that many of the bruises all over the child’s body were old, indicating ongoing physical abuse. In addition, there were fresh bruises to the child’s face. The doctor also noted blood behind the toddler’s eardrum, indicating a brain injury.
Steiner says this has been an especially difficult case for first responders.
"Our officers, and our medics, and all of our first responders that responded to this incident, they're all shocked," Steiner said. "Like I said, it's a very disturbing case, very difficult to be a part of."
The child died at Children's Hospital Tuesday night. Steiner says Leslie also physically abused the child's mother on a regular basis. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner determined the child’s cause of death to be from multiple traumatic injuries due to assault, with external injuries to the face, shoulder, chest, and right forearm, and internal bleeding in the brain.
Leslie faces a maximum of 40 years in prison if convicted.