Bronx boy's death ruled a homicide by the medical examiner

The medical examiner ruled Thursday that the 4-year-old Bronx boy found unconscious in his home was beaten to death.
The autopsy showed Quachaun Brown had numerous blunt impact injuries to his head and body, a brain hemorrhage and lacerations to his liver. The boy's mother, Aleshia Smith, 26, is charged with manslaughter in connection with the boy's death. Smith's boyfriend, Jose Calderone, 18, is charged with murder.
A criminal complaint accuses Calderone of beating Quachaun with his fists, a belt and a plastic bat and then slamming his head into a wall. According to the DA, Calderone admitted to detectives that he beat the boy. In addition, Smith told detectives her boyfriend claimed a television fell on her son, but she knew he'd been beaten. Smith's bail was set at $40,000 and Calderone was ordered to stay in jail until they are due back in court on February 3.
Meanwhile, the Administration for Children's Services confirmed that the family had been investigated after a November 15 complaint by one of Quachaun's siblings. Caseworkers visited the apartment after the complaint and cleared it.
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