Man Charged In NH Toddler's Death Held Without Bail

MANCHESTER, NH (CBS) - A Manchester, New Hampshire man is being held without bail after waiving his arraignment on a charge of second degree murder for the brutal killing of two-year-old Jacob Pelletier.

"Everybody's feeling upset right now," said the boy's great grandfather outside court where family members had hoped to face Heath today. He wouldn't comment further citing the ongoing investigation.

It was in a second floor apartment at 551 Howe Street in Manchester that Jacob was found unconscious on Monday, and pronounced dead a short time later. An autopsy confirmed it was a homicide, that Jacob was punched so hard in the stomach he died.

Heath, who lived in the apartment with the boy and his mother, was arrested Wednesday night.

"I can't wrap my head around it to be honest," said first floor neighbor Eric Landry. "I think one question is why, why did this happen. What drives somebody to get to that point to physically inflict that kind of pain on a child."

Heath is no stranger to the law. He's been arrested at least five times since 2003 for mostly non-violent offenses ranging from resisting arrest to identity fraud. But he was arrested in 2003 for animal cruelty. A judge set no bail.