A 19-year-old man is now charged with murder and neglect of a dependent after the death of a 4-year-old child who prosecutors say was beaten.
Christian Maradiaga was being held on counts of domestic battery, battery on a person younger than 14, interfering with the reporting of a crime, and criminal confinement. He was arrested on Thursday at an apartment in the 2800 block of Toledo Road in Elkhart after investigators were called to Elkhart General Hospital where the 4 year-old victim was being treated.
The child died on Friday, so Maradiaga’s charges have been upgraded to include murder. He’s due in court for his initial hearing on Thursday.