Mother, boyfriend charged in death of toddler
by Jon Collins, Minnesota Public RadioST. PAUL, Minn. — A mother and her boyfriend have been charged with second degree murder in the death of a 19-month-old toddler in St. Bonifacius, Minn. in February.
Shacara Foster, 27, and her boyfriend Kentae Todd, 20, are being held in Hennepin County Jail.
The toddler, Cottrell Short suffered broken bones, hemmorages and cigarette burns before his death, said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek.
The Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office reported that Short died on Feb. 10 of a blood infection from a burn on his hand.
"This crime when it occurred, a young boy dying like that absolutely shocked the conscience in the community itself," Stanek said. "With the arrest today, more answers to many of the questions that folks had can bring some relief."
Foster and Todd each face up to 40 years in jail if convicted.
