Posted: Thursday, May 13, 2004 12:00 am
CHEYENNE (AP) - A 17-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to beating to death a toddler he was baby-sitting last year.
Matthew Retherford, of Cheyenne, pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder in the May 16, 2003, beating of the 2-year-old while caring for him and two other children. The child is identified only as Kenny F. in court documents.
Retherford had been charged as an adult with first-degree murder.
He now faces 20 years to life in prison at his sentencing, although prosecutors have recommended 20 to 22 years behind bars. A sentencing date has not been set.
The toddler died July 26 at his Cheyenne home after being treated by Denver doctors.
Physicians determined that the boy's injuries were not consistent with an accident, according to Laramie County assistant district attorney Ericka Cook.
The boy had a bruise on the back of his head and an 8-year-old in Retherford's care that day told investigators the teenager beat and choked Kenny when he would not eat, court documents stated.
Retherford told police Kenny fell out of his chair while eating when Retherford went to the bathroom. He said he took the toddler to a neighbor's home after finding him convulsing on the floor.
Kenny was taken to United Medical Center-West, but doctors later transferred him to The Children's Hospital in Denver. Neurosurgeons tried without success to stop the bleeding and swelling around Kenny's brain.
He never woke up and was later released to his mother.