Missouri Toddler Dies from Sexual Assault Injuries Inflicted by His Babysitter, Officials Say By Christina Coulter

A 2-year-old Missouri boy died was allegedly sexual assaulted and severely injured — and later died — after he was left with a man his mother trusted, authorities say.

Bianca Wells left her son, Bre’Yon Wells, with 21-year-old Nicco Cotton on Oct. 27 while she worked a 10-hour shift. Police later received a call about an unresponsive child at a second location several miles away, and the toddler was taken to a St. Louis hospital where he was pronounced dead, per KMOV, KSDK and the Kansas City Star.

Court documents cited by the outlets say Bre’Yon had multiple internal and asphyxial injuries — including a lacerated liver — as well as injuries consistent with a sexual assault.

“My baby was so happy. He was so loving. He loved everybody and everything,” Wells told KMOV. “He just wanted to be a kid and enjoy life. I thought that’s what he was doing.”

“He was just the most adorable, sweet little thing,” the boy’s godmother, Latoya Johnston, told the Kansas City Star. “My whole family just broke down.”

Investigators said Cotton admitted to sexually assaulting, biting and strangling Bre’Yon before bringing the child to the second location, according to documents cited by KMOV, KSDK and the Star. Police said Cotton turned himself in on Oct. 30.

Bre’Yon’s death was “the result of the multiple injuries he suffered during the sexual assault,” officials said in court records reviewed by the Kansas City Star.

Cotton is charged with second-degree murder, forcible sodomy, statutory sodomy and abuse of a child resulting in death. He is being held without bond, per online jail records, and a court date has not yet been scheduled.

“When I can look him in his eyes and know that he’s going to sit behind a cell for the rest of his life, I’ll breathe,” Wells told KMOV.

“That’s the worst part. I felt like my baby was safe, he was OK and looked after, and he wasn’t,” she said. “I love you, Doodie. I’m sorry.”

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.