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Felony homicide charge against man accused in death of 4-year-old son sent to grand jury

During the hearing, prosecutors told the judge that Child Protective Services had the 4-year-old boy in its custody two months before his death.

NORFOLK, Va. — Two charges—felony homicide and child neglect—against a man accused of killing his 4-year-old son were sent to the grand jury on Wednesday.

Hank Smith appeared in court for a preliminary hearing. In November of 2018, police found his 4-year-old son, Larkin Carr, covered in bruises and with no pulse. He later died at the hospital.

During the hearing, prosecutors told the judge that Child Protective Services had Larkin Carr in its custody two months before his death.

A choking incident between a 14-year-old boy and the 4-year-old is what led CPS to take the child into custody.

Larkin Carr's parents called authorities after the 14-year-old boy choked the child, which led to hemorrhaging in his eyes, according to a police statement by the mother.

Additional details about the child's injuries:

  • Larkin Carr had more than 100 bruises on his body.
  • While in CPS custody, he weighed 36 pounds, which put him in the 41st percentile for kids his age.
  • He weighed 28 pounds at the time of his death and was extremely malnourished.

The cause of death was an abdominal injury that caused an aneurysm in his aorta. He also had several tears in his intestines.

Smith is still out on bond.

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