Duluth man accused of killing 2-year-old girl while her mother worked

A Duluth man faces a murder charge in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter, authorities said Tuesday.

The child’s mother called 911 on Sunday afternoon after returning home from work to find her daughter, Trinity Kyles, wasn’t breathing and would not wake up from her nap, Gwinnett County police said. Authorities were called to the Quality Inn Hotel along Venture Parkway about 5:45 p.m.

“The fire department attempted to revive the child but (was) unsuccessful,” Gwinnett police said in a news release. “The child had several bruises on the cheeks with finger and fingernail impressions, a swollen eye, swollen forehead and bruises on the body.”

According to investigators, Malik Kyhree Kennedy, 24, had been watching his girlfriend’s daughter that afternoon while her mother worked.

An autopsy conducted the following day determined the child suffered an injury to the back of her head, police said, and her death was ruled a homicide. Kennedy is charged with felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children. He is being held at the Gwinnett County Jail without bond.

Kennedy is the latest metro Atlanta caregiver to be charged with murder in the death of a child he was supposed to be looking after.

Earlier this month, Dehaven Johnson, 28, was arrested after authorities accused him of breaking the femur of a 9-month-old boy while watching him at his Sandy Springs apartment. The boy later died.

Jelani Williams’ mother dropped him off with a former roommate March 31, investigators said. Police said the boy’s femur was broken in half and that he had bruising on his forehead and back. Jelani died after being taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.

In December, a babysitter allegedly beat a 2-year-old to death in Sandy Springs. And in February, an in-home day care owner in Dunwoody was charged with murder after a 4-month-old in her care died, according to police.

Kyles’ death is still being investigated, and anyone with information is asked to contact Gwinnett detectives at 770-513-5300. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.