A man was arrested and charged in the beating death of his 8-week-old daughter at their Bronx apartment, authorities said.
Demi Gray's death was ruled a homicide, and the medical examiner's office said she died from blunt force trauma. The girl had bruises on her abdomen, back and face, prosecutors said.
Her 21-year-old father, Gregory Gray, was charged with manslaughter and held without bail after a court hearing Friday. Gray gave conflicting statements to investigators about what happened, prosecutors said during the hearing. They say he told investigators he dropped the girl on a metal chair, rolled over her and had possibly held her too tight.
Gray's uncle, Hopeton Thomas, told reporters that his nephew is a "loving kid.''
"Usually he's on the block with the child, you know, showing the kid off. This is kind of -- it's sad, real sad,'' he said. Gray was alone with his daughter at their Morris Heights apartment when she was injured Nov. 3, police said.
Demi died at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, where she was transported after her father called 911 to report she had stopped breathing.
Gray is due back in court on Nov. 10.
