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Girl, 3, dies after being beaten, possibly raped; mother's boyfriend charged

Girl, 3, dies after being beaten, possibly raped; mother's boyfriend charged
Posted at 3:56 PM, May 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-12 12:04:50-04

FORREST CITY, AR (WMC) - A 3-year-old girl has died after investigators said she was severely beaten and possibly raped at her home near Forrest City, Arkansas. 

St. Francis County Sheriff's Office said Deonte Miller, the live-in boyfriend of the girl's mother, is behind bars. 

The girl's mother said she received a call from Miller on Friday morning, urging her to rush home. 

When she got home, she said her daughter was unresponsive.

Officials said the girl bruised from the waist up and it looked like a cord had been tied around her neck. 

Investigators also found evidence to suggest she may have been raped.  

Miller, who is not the girl's father, is charged with capital murder with no bond.

The girl's mother said she doesn't believe Miller, who she's known since November, was responsible. 

However, investigators said Miller, who also has a criminal history, gave officials at least five different accounts of how the girl was injured. 

Officials said Miller could also be charged with rape pending the results of a rape kit. 

WMC Action News 5 will continue following this story and update it as more information becomes available. 

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