DEMETRIUS WASHINGTON, JR - 2 yo - Troy MO

Douglas Rivette charged in toddler's death
10:49 AM, Aug 22, 2011 Written by Kevin Held

Troy, MO (KSDK) - A Lincoln County man has been charged in connection with the death of a two-year-old boy.

According to Major Kurt Venneman, spokesman for the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to the Lincoln County Medical Center on the morning of Thursday, August 18 for a toddler being treated for a head injury.

The boy, identified as Demetrius Washington Jr., was pronounced dead later that morning at 10:15 a.m.

Investigators learned the boy was living with his mother and her boyfriend, Douglas Rivette, at a residence on Two Pine Drive. Rivette told deputies he tripped while walking out the front door and accidentally hit the child from behind, causing him to fall down the front steps.

Venneman said a forensic medical examination concluded the boy died from internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma to the abdomen. The medical examiner told authorities the toddler's injuries were consistent with being punched or kicked and ruled the toddler's death a homicide.

When detectives confronted Rivette with evidence that conflicted with his story, Venneman said Rivette confessed to killing the child. Rivette told them he kicked the boy in the stomach, causing him to fall backward and strike his head on the closet door.

Douglas Rivette was charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a child - resulting in death, and armed criminal action, Venneman said. He remains jailed in lieu of a $1 million cash-only bond.

KSDK

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/272972/3/Man-charged-in-toddlers-death-