Charges In Death Of Hoke Infant To Be Filed At Later Date

Authorities said autopsy results show Nasir Jones was abused before his death.

Authorities said the infant was brought to the health department by his mother, LaToya McClain, and the boy's father. The parents claim Jones was crying and vomiting. Doctors later sent Jones to Cape Fear ValleyMedical Center in Fayetteville, where he died Monday afternoon.

Investigators would not detail the infant's injuries, but said he suffered severe bruising.They have ruled out sudden infant death syndrome and other factors as a possible cause of death.

"The sad thing is the little guy never really had a chance to live. It's really taken a toll on our officers," said Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin.

Authorities have not said who they plan to charge in connection with Jones' death.

According to

Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina

, 43 children were murdered in 2002. Twenty-six of those children were killed by their parents or caregivers. Sixty-five percent of murdered children were under the age of four.