CINCINNATI -- The man accused of assaulting and causing "serious physical harm" to a 15-month-old Saturday made his first appearance in court Monday morning, hours before the girl died at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Recardo Woods, 19, stands charged with felonious assault. Police say Woods backhanded his niece, 15-month-old Kassidy, while she and her 3-month-old sister Korri were in his care and that both were taken to the hospital for treatment.
"My daughter is not going to make it. I have to take her off life support when I leave here," said the girl's mother, Danielle Stallworth, noting she has had no brain activity. "She was a happy baby, always smiling. She just learned how to walk after her first birthday."
Both off-camera and behind glass, Stallworth pleaded with the judge to keep Woods locked up.
"The defendant admitted, according to (our detective), one backhanded strike to the 15-month-old child and admitted nothing to the 3-month-old child who is currently in critical condition as well," said Assistant Prosecutor David Wood.
"Based on my conversations with my client he hasn't admitted to striking the child at all," retorted Woods' attorney, Clyde Bennett.
Stallworth said Korri will be released from the hospital Monday afternoon. She added that she trusted Woods with her kids, calling him their uncle. The family is shocked something like this would happen.
"Watch who y'all bring your babies around. Please, just watch who y'all have around your kids," Stallworth said.
The Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit is standing by and said additional charges are likely. Woods was ordered held on a half-million-dollar bond.
