New details in murder of Prince George toddler

PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Court documents have revealed new details in the murder of a Prince George County toddler.

On Monday, March 2, 31-year-old Tyler Skinner was charged with second-degree murder and felony child abuse in connection with the 20-month-old boy's death. Police said Skinner is the boyfriend of the child's mother.

Court documents say the child was in Skinner's care at the time.

At 8:17 a.m. on Monday, officers with the Prince George County Police Department were called to the 100 block of Blue Jay Street for a report of a non-responsive child. There, they found the toddler with "severe trauma." He was taken to a hospital where he later died.

A fundraiser posted by the boy's family and verified by GoFundMe reads: "Today, we lost him in a way no family should ever have to experience -- by the hands of someone we thought we could trust."

Skinner is currently being held without bail at Riverside Regional Jail.

His charges carry a heavy sentence -- but they could change.

"At this point, the defendant is facing charges that carry 7 to 50 years, if he is ultimately convicted," 8News' legal analyst Russ Stone said. "What I would caution people about is that this only happened a couple of days ago. There's a whole lot of investigation that the police still need to do, including getting a report from the medical examiner as to what actually caused the death."

Stone said that such developments in the case could result Skinner's charges being adjusted.

The Prince George Police Department is actively investigating the toddler's death. It says a formal update will be provided once the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has determined the cause and manner of death.

Skinner's first appearance in court is scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, March 4.