A Memphis, Tennessee mother and her boyfriend were recently arrested and charged after a 3-year-old boy was severely beaten, allegedly over eating the last piece of cheesecake, according to KTLA sister station WREG.
Anthony Gulledge was taken into custody after he allegedly dragged his girlfriend’s son by his ankles and then whipped him with a belt Friday night, the Memphis television station reported.
The beating left the toddler with a number of injuries, including a dislocated vertebrae and a broken femur, according to the station.
He was hospitalized and last reported to be in critical condition.
The boy’s mother, Katrina Johnson, told police that Gulledge became enraged after he learned that her son had eaten the last remaining slice of cheesecake.
Gulledge, who has denied hitting the boy, was arrested on charges of neglect, aggravated child abuse and domestic assault, WREG reported.
Johnson was also charged with aggravated child abuse after police alleged she did nothing to stop the beating, according to the TV station.
The boy had also not been taken to the hospital until one day after the incident.
KTLA sister station WREG contributed to this report.