Man Charged In Death Of MD Toddler Found In Backpack In OH Creek

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A man suspected in the death of a 1-year-old Maryland boy found inside a backpack in a central Ohio creek has been charged with murder after the toddler's mother agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Twenty-four-year-old Kurt Flood, of Columbus, also was charged Monday with felonious assault, endangering children, evidence tampering and abuse of a corpse.

Court records listed no attorney for Flood, who has been jailed on a suspected probation violation. His arraignment is Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Flood apparently believed the boy, Cameron Beckford, had demons and beat the toddler to get rid of them.

The mother, 25-year-old Dainesha Stevens, had stayed with Flood at a home near where Cameron's body was found Dec. 31.
Stevens pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering last week.

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