In a horrifying tale of alleged child abuse, police in Las Vegas say that 7-year-old Roderick "R.J." Arrington Jr. was beaten to death by his parents after failing to read the Bible or do his homework.
His mother, 27-year-old Dina Palmer, and stepfather, Markiece Palmer, 34, who — as if this story could get any worse — reportedly called a pastor before an ambulance when they realized how seriously they'd harmed the child, are charged with his murder. From the Huffington Post:
According to KLAS, the arrest report detailed "open abrasions on [Arrington's] buttocks, severe bruising to his thighs, marks and bruises on his back and shoulders and evidence of previous beatings."
Markiece Palmer stated the second grade student was spanked on Nov. 27 because he had lied about reading the Bible; he said the boy was also spanked the following day for not finishing his homework, according to police.
Police claim the boy's stepfather beat him with a spatula, belt and possibly a wooden paddle. Dina Palmer allegedly struck her son on his buttocks with both a belt and her hand.
The couple reportedly called a pastor before dialing 911. KSNV writes, "Pastor Kenneth Hollingsworth says he's as shocked as anyone that Markiece Palmer chose to call him before first-responders."
Read more at the Huffington Post.
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