BUSHWICK — A 3-year-old girl was beaten to death by her stepfather who flew into a rage after she soiled herself Saturday afternoon, sources said.
Jeida Torres had been napping in her family's home in a homeless shelter at 38 Cooper St., near Bushwick Avenue, when she awoke just before 4 p.m. while her mom was at work, sources said.
Her stepdad, 20-year-old Kelsey Smith, who married her mother over the summer, was enraged to find that the girl had soiled her underwear, sources said.
Smith started pummeling the little girl, police said. Her brother, 5, was also injured and investigators believe he tried to stop Smith, sources said.
Smith then realized Jeida had stopped breathing and said he tried to resuscitate her, sources said. He claimed he did chest compressions on her but left when she didn't respond, sources said.
Jeida was pronounced dead at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, police said. The medical examiner ruled her death was a homicide caused by blunt impact injuries to her head and torso, a spokeswoman said.
Her brother was taken to the same hospital in stable condition, police said.
The Brooklyn District Attorney's office said Monday afternoon that Smith will be charged with murder in the second degree and other charges.
Jeida's mom, Kimberly Torres, returned home to find it crawling with police, sources said.
Investigators tracked Smith to an aunt's house in Queens after he tried to slit his wrists, sources said. He was arrested on charges of assault and injuring a child younger than 17, police said.
Smith's uncle, Mark Almodovar, told reporters Monday that his nephew made a mistake and didn't intend to kill Jeida.
"He's a good person. He disciplined a child wrong," Almodovar said.
"He wants to prove to everybody he didn't mean to kill this kid. He's not a monster. He just didn't think."
Smith was undergoing a psychological evaluation at Bellevue hospital, police said. He was awaiting arraignment Monday afternoon, prosecutors said.
Smith had been arrested 15 times before, most recently in 2014 for obstruction of governmental administration, but there was no record of domestic violence incidents involving the couple, an NYPD spokeswoman said.
He was also arrested by the New York State Police in 2011 for assault, NYPD officials said. The State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He has also been arrested on charges of gang assault, grand larceny, robbery and more, police said.
Relatives said Smith tried to be responsible with his wife's kids, even if he didn't have the closest relationship with them.
"I can't say he loved them or was the best father in the world, but he took care of them," Almodovar said.
Family friend Carla Martinez, 23, saw Smith with his wife's kids hours before the deadly attack when they visited the telecommunications store where she works.
"Nothing looked wrong. He seemed like a good father. He'd pick up the boy from daycare a lot. He'd come in the store with them about three times a week," Martinez said.
"They looked happy."
Jeida's great-uncle, Richie Thomas, said his family is devastated by the girl's death.
"We're just holding on right now," he said.
City agencies said they are working together to investigate the girl's death.
"We are aware of this situation, and together with DHS (Department of Homeless Services) and NYPD are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident," Administration for Children's Services officials said.
A spokesman said privacy laws prevented him from confirming or denying any previous contact with ACS.
Housing Bridge, which operates the shelter under a city contract, did not respond to a call for comment.
"We are saddened by the senseless death of an innocent child," a DHS spokeswoman said. "We will continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety of all children who are in our shelters."
The homeless services agency plans a number of reforms, including screening of future applicants for domestic violence and child abuse histories and performing risk assessments to better safeguard children.
Smith is being held in Bellevue Hospital. No arraignment has been scheduled.
With reporting by Serena Dai.
