Eli Taylor

Eli Taylor, 3, died at a hospital after suffering abdominal trauma, police said. Tevin Branom, 21, of the 11400 block of Latonka Trail in St. Louis County, was charged with second-degree murder and abuse or neglect of a child in the death of Eli at the Latonka Trail address, county police said. Police and paramedics went to Branom's residence for a report of a child not breathing, police said. When they began lifesaving measures, they noticed Eli was bruised and had broken ribs, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Branom was not able to offer an explanation for the injuries, police said, adding that Eli's three siblings were taken into protective custody. Eli's cause of death was determined to be abdominal trauma, police said. Eli and three siblings had been returned to Branom's care about one month prior to Eli's death, police said. The children had been removed from the home for about 18 months due to prior abuse allegations.