Boyfriend arrested in toddler's abuse

A Carson City man was arrested Friday after confessing to injuring his girlfriend's toddler, an investigator said.

Tracy L. Becker, 26, was booked into the Carson City Jail on suspicion of felony child abuse.

According to Carson City Sheriff's Sgt. Bob White, Becker and his girlfriend share a home on Roop Street where the couple works alternating shifts so they can each take turns watching the woman's 22-month-old daughter.

On Wednesday, the girl's mother took her to the hospital after Becker told her the child fell. In addition to bruising on her neck and back, doctor's discovered the girl had two subdural hematomas, or areas in the space between her brain and skull where blood was collecting. An X-ray also revealed the child had evidence of old fractures in her arms that had healed.

Detective Craig Lowe said that initially Becker denied harming the girl and said she'd been hurt when she tripped leaving their apartment, but upon further questioning, Becker allegedly admitted he'd gotten "frustrated" with the child after giving her a bath on Wednesday and slammed her head down on the floor. When she began to lose consciousness, he became frightened and called the child's mother.

Lowe said it appears that the mother had no idea of the abuse.

The Division of Child and Family Services has taken guardianship of the toddler, who is recovering in a Reno hospital.

Becker is being held on $40,000 bail.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.