Man faces murder charge in 2-year-old’s beating death

Kevin Stewart

Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office

Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office

Kevin Stewart

A man has been charged with murder in connection with the beating death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son, according to DeKalb County jail records.

Kevin Stewart’s charges were upgraded Tuesday, just days after the boy died. Stewart was previously charged with aggravated battery and first-degree cruelty to children.

RELATED: Woman, boyfriend face charges in DeKalb toddler's fatal beating

The boy’s mother, Ceddricka Davis, told police she was away from the couple’s room at the Stone Mountain Inn on Mountain Industrial Boulevard, police spokeswoman Shiera Campbell told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

When she came back to the room, Davis said she saw Stewart, her boyfriend, performing CPR on the child.

According to arrest warrants, Stewart abused the boy for three hours, hitting him in the head, chest, arms and legs. Davis allegedly confessed to police she left her son in Stewart’s care after the two used marijuana and cocaine.

Davis and Stewart took the boy to DeKalb Medical Center, Campbell said. He was later taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.

During the investigation, Davis admitted Stewart had previously abused the boy after hospital personnel discovered older bruises on his body, according to arrest warrants.

Davis faces second-degree cruelty to children. It is unclear if her charges will be upgraded.