The child was transported to UNC hospitals in Chapel Hill where he was in cardiac arrest upon arrival. He immediately underwent surgery for 3 hours.
Doctors at UNC reported to investigators the child had received blunt force trauma to the abdomen and had suffered massive internal injuries. They said the injuries were the results of an assault.
The boy was pronounced dead at UNC at 12:22 a.m.
According to Lee County Captain Jeff Johnson, 22-year-old Ebony Lashaun Watson was the care taker of the child.
She is the girlfriend of the child's father, Eddie Pugh. Both reside in at the Regal Inn. Watson had someone from the inn call 911 at 1:30 p.m. reporting the child was choking.
Watson was interviewed by investigators and admitted to causing the injuries to the child.
She is charged with murder, felony assault inflicting serious injury and felony child abuse. Watson was placed in Lee County Jail under no bond.
