| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
LOS ANGELES (AP) The mother of a 2-year-old boy who died of injuries from a beating has been charged with his murder, as well as torturing him last month.
Claudia Liseth Merlos, 19, allegedly beat her son over a week until her roommate called paramedics on Tuesday. The toddler, Ivan, died Wednesday at a hospital.
Merlos, of the Canoga Park area, faces one count each of murder, torture and child abuse causing death. Her arraignment was postponed Thursday to Oct. 21.
She was held on $500,000 bail, though prosecutors recommended that it be doubled.
The county family services department is investigating the case.
Marina Divas, Merlos' roommate, said the mother had previously slapped Ivan, struck him with a belt and sometimes flung him against a wall.
The toddler died of injuries including massive internal bleeding, authorities said.