Documents: 3-Year-Old D.C. Boy Severely Beaten Prior to Death, Mom Arrested

Court documents show a 3-year-old D.C. boy was severely beaten before he was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Three-year-old Xavier Lyles was found dead June 24 in a home in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road. His mother, Frances Lyles, was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree felony murder.

According to charging documents, D.C. police spoke with the little boy's mother several times since Xavier was found dead. During the first few interviews, Frances Lyles, 25, maintained she "hardly ever" physically disciplined her children.

Police interviewed someone who spoke with her on the phone prior to Xavier's death. That person said that Frances Lyles said she was "'bout to beat Xavier's a**" on June 1. 

Officers also spoke with the Lyles' neighbors, who reported hearing "screaming, hollering and cries for several minutes and then it was [quiet]" the night before police found Xavier dead.

According to documents, Xavier suffered a slew of injuries, including liver lacerations, hemorrhaging of the bowels, heart and kidney, bruising all over his body and internal bleeding.

"I'm feeling sad, hurt, disgusted. My heart fell to my feet," Xavier's aunt told News4 prior to the arrest. "It was such a shock. This is tragic."

According to charging documents, police interviewed Frances Lyles' boyfriend several times during the investigation, and learned he had never beaten Frances' children.

Frances Lyles is behind bars without bond.

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