2 Charged With Murder in MN Toddler's Death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities are calling the death of a St. Bonifacius toddler a horrific case of child abuse.

The boy's 27-year-old mother, Shacara Foster, and her boyfriend, 20-year-old Kentae Todd, were charged Thursday with second-degree murder. Todd also is charged with child neglect, a gross misdemeanor. Foster was charged with neglect in March. Both are in jail.

Authorities say the victim, 19-month-old Cottrell Short, and his younger sister slept in portable cribs in the basement of a duplex packed with 17 people.

The boy died Feb. 10. An autopsy found he had a fresh skull fracture, a broken arm, a broken leg and a serious burn on his right hand.

The Star Tribune (http://bit.ly/Kf0ON9 ) reports police had been called to the duplex in St. Bonifacius 35 times since 2008.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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