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WATERTOWN, NEW YORK: A woman and her boyfriend were arrested in for reportedly killing her three-year-old son, neglecting and ultimately beating the child to death. Kaitlin Cyrus, 23 and Jovannie Vega, 24, were taken into custody this week and charged with several violent felonies, including second-degree manslaughter, in the slaying of young Kayden Flowers.

On Tuesday, November 28, the couple was initially arrested and charged with first and second-degree assault as well as first-degree reckless endangerment. The manslaughter charges were added during their Thursday, November 30, arraignments which took place shortly after Kayden died.

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When were the authorities informed about the incident?

According to , the Massena Police Department officers responded to a 911 call at about 8.37 am on Tuesday at a residence located in the 10 block of Francis Street, less than three miles from the St. Lawrence River, which marks the international border between the US and Canada.

Kayden was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. However, due to the severity of his condition, he was later transported via airlift to the University of Vermont Medical Center.

In a written statement, Massena Police Detective Michael J O’Brien reportedly determined that about two days before the 911 call, Vega had picked up the little boy and threw him into a wall in his bedroom. Vega is then accused of picking up the little boy and slamming him down onto the floor multiple times.

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What injuries did the child suffer?

Kayden suffered a broken arm, broken leg, lacerated liver, and “severe swelling” and bleeding in the brain that led to a complete loss of brain function, Carthage, New York, CBS affiliate WWNY reported. The child succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 9.02 am on Thursday despite the best efforts of the medical staff. 

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According to court documents, Cyrus, the victim’s biological mother is accused of permitting her boyfriend to “engage in ongoing physical abuse” of her son, and further allege that she “failed to seek aid and did not seek medical attention for said child for approximately 48 hours” after Vega allegedly inflicted the fatal injuries on Kayden.

The actions of Vega and Cyrus “ultimately caused the death of the three-year-old victim,” Detective O’Brien reportedly wrote in his statement. “I’m in my 20th year of law enforcement and this was the worst case I’ve ever seen,” Massena Police Chief Jason Olson reportedly told WWNY.

The defendants shockingly pleaded not guilty

Both defendants reportedly pleaded not guilty during their separate arraignments in front of Massena Town Justice Joseph Brown. They are currently being held in St Lawrence County Jail without bond. Police reportedly said that there were no complaints of child abuse were made against either defendant before this week’s allegations.

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