Man charged with murder for death of 2-year-old in NH

MANCHESTER, N.H. — A 2-year-old boy whose death had been called suspicious was killed by blunt force trauma, according to an autopsy report.

Manchester Police have been investigating since the New Hampshire Attorney General called the toddler's death suspicious Monday.

Officers were called to a home on Howe Street around 11:30 a.m., where they found 2-year-old Jacob Pelletier unconscious.

The toddler was rushed to Elliot hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“Nobody should be speculating on who did what, you know? The parents were not there when this tragic happened,” Diane Pelletier, Jacob’s great aunt, said. “We need to not speculate and let the police enforcements do what they need to do.”

>>RELATED: Manchester police investigating suspicious death of 2-year-old

Wednesday night, the New Hampshire Attorney General announced charges against 32-year-old Mark Heath, a man family members say was Jacob’s mother’s boyfriend.

Heath is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, one count alleges that he acted knowingly, the other alleges that he acted recklessly.

“You don’t do that to child period. If you have anger or aggression you got to take out you find other ways to do it you don’t take it out on a child,” neighbor Eric Landry said.

Chief Medical Examiner Jennie Duval conducted the autopsy and said Jacob was killed with blunt force trauma to the abdomen. She ruled his death a homicide.

“The one question is why. Why did this happen? At what point did this drive somebody to get to that point to physically inflict that type of pain on a child?" Landry said.

Police say they are still investigating the circumstances surrounding Pelletier's death. Police have not said if anyone is in custody. Family members told Boston 25 News they have been asked by police to keep quiet about details until the court process is underway.

Heath, who is listed as living at the multi-family home where Jacob was found unresponsive, has been arrested five different times from 2003 to 2012 for charges varying from animal cruelty, to ID theft, to stolen property.

Heath was set to appear in court Thursday, but waived his right to an arraignment. He is now staying in jail and it could be up to three months before a hearing.

Cox Media Group