Man accused of abusing and killing girlfriend’s 5-year-old son

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (TCN) -- A 32-year-old man and his 23-year-old girlfriend are facing charges after the man allegedly beat her 5-year-old son to death because he was jealous of the attention the boy got from his mother.

According to the Michigan City Police Department, on March 2 at around 7:16 a.m., officers and paramedics responded to a home on the 2200 block of Normandy Drive regarding an unresponsive 5-year-old boy, Augustus Williams, and he was transported to a local hospital. He was then flown to University of Chicago Children’s Hospital for "advanced medical treatment," but he died that night following "heroic efforts" from medical professionals.

The Cook County medical examiner ruled Williams' death a homicide. Detectives began investigating, and on March 6, they arrested Brice Bainum on one count of murder and one count of interference with the reporting of a crime. On March 7, Williams' mother, Halie Lewis, was taken into custody for neglect of a dependent causing death.

Court documents cited by WNDU-TV say Lewis discovered her son on the floor at around 6:30 a.m. She reportedly wrapped him in blankets because he was cold, then put him in a hot shower. Williams reportedly made noise after the shower, but he went limp and unresponsive again. Then, she called 911.

The autopsy reportedly showed Williams sustained multiple injuries to his head and scalp. He also had brain bleeds and died from assault-related injuries.

Lewis reportedly told investigators that Bainum punished her son by forcing him to take cold showers and hitting him. When she reportedly asked Bainum not to strike her son, he allegedly said, "F--k you, he is not going to bite me."

According to WNDU, Lewis expressed fear of Bainum because he abused her. He reportedly attacked Williams because he was jealous when Lewis cared for her son.

WSBT-TV reports Lewis allegedly told investigators Bainum poured cold water on Williams as he knelt on the floor and was shivering. He reportedly hit Bainum on the back of his head, and Lewis later heard a "thump." One neighbor allegedly heard Williams say, "No, please stop. I will be a good boy."

Another type of abuse allegedly included Bainum feeding the boy hot sauce on a spoon with cayenne pepper. Bainum had allegedly been abusing Williams for about six months.

Bainum’s bond was set at $1 million cash and Lewis’ is $100,000 cash.

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