Caretaker Charged In Death Of 4-Year-Old Boy In Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — An Illinois man is facing felony child abuse charges after Baltimore County police said a 4-year-old boy died while in his care, according to police and a report.

Zurail Smith, 26, was charged with several counts of child abuse following the boy's May 5 death, Baltimore County police said in a news release.

According to police, authorities found Amir James unresponsive inside a home in the Unit block of Sollers Point Road. Medics took the child to a nearby hospital, where he died, police said.

Authorities said Smith was temporarily caring for the child at the time of his death.

In charging documents obtained by the Baltimore Banner, Amir and his twin brother stayed with Smith for about four months after their mother lost her house and moved into a hotel with her boyfriend. Their mother said she left the boys with Smith because she didn't want them staying in a hotel, the Banner reported.

Smith also told investigators he was playing video games in the living room when Amir fell off the couch and his head on a large metal and leather belt, the Banner reported. When asked if he wrestled with the twins, Smith said he would "choke slam" them onto the couch or body slam them but hadn't done so in the two days leading up to Amir's death, the report said.

An autopsy later determined Amir had several injuries to his skull that resulted in severe and fatal bleeding in his brain, the Banner reported.

Smith is currently being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on no bond, police said.