Teen To Be Charged As Adult In Beating Death Of Toddler

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - A teenager will soon be charged as an adult in the beating death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter.

In June Cody Feran-Baum, then 17, was babysitting Sophia O'Neill at his grandparents' Minneapolis home while his girlfriend was away.

Baum told police that O'Neill would not stop crying, so he kicked her twice in the back, laid her on the floor and then stomped on her back, according to a petition filed in juvenile court.

Feran-Baum, now 18, has agreed to waive his right to a hearing on whether he must stand trial as an adult, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said Tuesday.

He will soon be charged as an adult.

Child protection reports show a history of abuse and neglect allegations related to O'Neill and her mother, Sunshine Smith.