St. Paul boy, 2, dies; mother and her boyfriend arrested

A 2-year-old boy died yesterday, a victim of an alleged homicide involving the boy's mother and her boyfriend.

St. Paul police arrived at a St. Paul residence at about 6 a.m., responding to a report of a child not breathing. Paramedics transported the boy to St. Paul Children's Hospital, where doctors performed surgery to treat internal injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. He died later at the hospital.

St. Paul Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Schnell said doctors quickly realized the boy had suffered extensive internal injuries.

"Anytime a child presents in the emergency room for needed care, the medical staff look for the plausibility of the injuries," Schnell said. "In this particular case, the level of injuries would not be consistent with an accidental fall."

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

Police arrested the mother, 22, and her boyfriend, 21, both of St. Paul, yesterday. Charges are pending.

The boyfriend has a long history of domestic abuse, according to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's Web site. His criminal history includes four felonies for domestic abuse, most recently in April 2008.

The Ramsey County medical examiner will conduct an autopsy today. The police investigation continues, but there are no additional suspects in the case.

The last infant homicide in St. Paul occurred in 2007, when a 15-month-old girl was killed by her father.