Mother’s boyfriend accused of killing 4-year-old with special needs: ‘She was my entire world’
SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - The parents of a 4-year-old South Carolina girl with special needs became emotional as they attended the bond hearing for the man accused of killing their daughter.
Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office were asked Dec. 23 by Prisma Hospital to investigate a case involving hospitalized 4-year-old Addison Carr, who had special needs, WHNS reports.
Addison died the day after Christmas, according to the coroner’s office, and an autopsy was performed the following day. The 4-year-old’s cause and manner of death were ruled as blunt force trauma and homicide, respectively.
The sheriff’s office said Thursday that the homicide unit team arrested and charged 28-year-old Tyler David Ternberg with homicide by child abuse. Investigators allege he caused “non-accidental trauma” to Addison.
Officials said Ternberg was the boyfriend of Addison’s mother and was caring for the 4-year-old at the time the incident is believed to have occurred.
Ternberg was denied bond Friday and remains in jail.
Addison’s parents were in court for the emotional bond hearing.
“You didn’t have to hurt my baby. She was my entire world,” said Addison’s mother through tears. “Why would you do something like this to her? I hate you, Tyler. I hate you so much.”
Addison’s father, Stanley Carr, says he can’t imagine how someone could hurt his daughter.
“I’m just sad and mad at the same time. It comes and goes. I don’t know how somebody could do this to somebody like Addie,” Carr said.
Carr says Addison had a lack of oxygen during birth. She had a feeding tube and couldn’t move around a lot, but he says the 4-year-old’s smile could brighten anyone’s day.
“My biggest thing is just ing that smile from her all the time,” he said. “She was just a sweetheart and a joy to be around.”
Carr says he is hoping for justice in the case.
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