A 23-year-old man has been arrested on murder and other charges for allegedly beating a 2-year-old girl to death and critically injuring the child's twin sister, who remains hospitalized with a lacerated liver and internal bleeding.
Derran Morris, of Mount Vernon, allegedly attacked twin daughters, Addison and Annalynn Turner, in their home on Tuesday. According to a criminal complaint, he repeatedly struck both of them in the stomach to the point both suffered multiple contusions, severe internal bleeding and lacerated livers.
Addison Turner died. Her sister is fighting for her life.
Eddie Turner, the children's grandfather, said Morris is not their biological father, but was in a relationship with the twins' mother.
"You must call me daddy, he was forcing the kids to call him daddy," said Turner.
Morris was remanded without bail Friday after his arraignment on second-degree murder and first-degree assault charges. It wasn't clear if he entered a plea at the hearing, and information on an attorney for him wasn't immediately available.
