An autistic, non-verbal boy was allegedly beaten to death by his father who prosecutors claim brutally assaulted him until he suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage.
Five-year-old Karter Holloway died on New Year's Day at the University of Chapel Hill Hospital as a result of his injuries from the beating.
Amir Devon Hines, 24, has been charged with murder and felony child abuse and is being held without bond; it is unclear if he has entered a plea at this time.
'He was always happy, he would just bop. Just bop around all the time. He was my 'bop-bop', Tiffani Holloway, Karter's maternal grandmother, told
.
Hines, who is scheduled to appear back in court on Monday, told the family that Karter had fallen off his bike when Karter was hospitalized, according to Holloway.
Karter Holloway, 5, was beaten to death by his father who brutally 'assaulted him until he suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage'
The five-year-old had autism and was non-verbal. He died on New Year's Day at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Hospital as a result of his injuries from the beating
Karter's father Amir Devon Hines, 24, has been charged with murder and felony child abuse, being held without bond
The Raleigh Police Department received a call on December 31 from staff at UNC Chapel Hill Hospital about a serious assault on a child.
The boy died the next day from a brain hemorrhage that resulted from his injuries, according to doctors.
The five-year-old, who had autism and was non-verbal, leaves behind a two-year-old sister and the rest of the family.
'He loved me,' Holloway said on
. 'He couldn't talk. He had words but he didn't talk in sentences. He had ways of letting you know.'
The grandma said Karter loved being in water and superheroes.
'Processing the crime - I can't process that... process that I'll never see Karter again, I struggle with that,' Holloway said.
It is reported that Hines showed no remorse during his initial appearance in court when a judge informed him that Karter had died.
'Medical reports told us the medical truth, which was he was beaten all over. Karter had bruises from head to toe,' Holloway said, unable to hold back her tears.
'That will help us in this process of grieving because now know the truth,' she added.
'To know what Karter went through in those last moments that he was alert and alive.
The five-year-old, who had autism and was non-verbal, leaves behind a two-year-old sister in addition to the rest of the family
His grandma said Karter loved being in water and superheroes
'He loved me,' Holloway said on WRAL . 'He couldn't talk. He had words but he didn't talk in sentences. He had ways of letting you know'
As the families continue to seek the truth behind the heartbreaking death of Karter, they gathered on Saturday for his funeral
Kennedy Holloway, Karter's aunt, wrote on a GoFundMe page established for him: 'Now that we have laid our BopBop to rest we will begin the healing process'
As the families continue to seek the truth behind the heartbreaking death of Karter, they gathered on Saturday for his funeral.
'Of all deaths, that of a child is the most unnatural and the hardest to bear,' Dr. Enoch Holloway, Karter's great uncle, said.
'He loved life. He loved his family,' Letitia Tillery, a teacher, told the crowd gathered. 'When he hugged you, it was full of love and compassion. He squeezed the happiness into your soul.'
'Death seems a cruel thief when it strikes down the young,' Enoch said. 'If I can say anything that I'm confident in, Karter's with the Lord.'
Kennedy Holloway, Karter's aunt, wrote on a
set up for his funeral costs: 'Now that we have laid our BopBop to rest we will begin the healing process.
'This may be hard because of the legal issues involved, but I trust that God will see us through that too,' she wrote.
Kennedy thanked supporters who contributed to the GoFundMe, which has raised more than $10,000 as of early Sunday morning.
She wrote: 'Mostly I would like to say thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. You have no idea how much it has helped!'
