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Mom's boyfriend accused in death of 6-month-old

The Tampa resident is accused of fracturing the skull of his girlfriend's baby son.

By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN and GRAHAM BRINK
Published April 21, 2005

TAMPA - A Tampa man accused of killing his girlfriend's 6-month-old baby turned himself in Wednesday night, several hours after police started a manhunt.

Chadrick "Toto" Thomas faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the April 12 beating death of 6-month-old Zaconyae Brazelton, according to police records. He surrendered at the county jail about 9 p.m. and was being held without bail.

According to police, Zaconyae's mother, 23-year-old Violet Roberts, put the boy in the bed with Thomas as she was getting ready for work on April 12. Thomas, who is unemployed, often babysat Zaconyae.

Police think that sometime between 9:30 a.m and 2 p.m., Thomas struck a severe blow to the boy's head that fractured his skull and killed him instantly. At 2 p.m., Thomas emerged from the bedroom carrying Zaconyae and told the boy's great-uncle that the child had stopped breathing. The great-uncle called 911 and began CPR to no avail.

Soon after, Thomas moved in with his mother and could not be found until Wednesday, when he surrendered, police said. An autopsy showed that Zaconyae had suffered at least 10 broken ribs in the past.

Zaconyae's mother had taken him to the doctor before because the baby was born with a respiratory problem, said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy.

McElroy said the Department of Children and Families had been involved with the family before the killing because Zaconyae's father was accused of beating Roberts' 3-year-old son by another man. Police said he broke several bones and lacerated the boy's liver.

Carr Brazelton, 21, was charged a year ago with aggravated child abuse and battery, jail records show. He remains in the county jail without bail. His trial was due to start last week, but after Zaconyae's death was delayed until next week, McElroy said.

After Zaconyae died, DCF took custody of the older boy and placed him with his paternal grandmother.

Relatives of the boy's mother were stunned to hear the news about Thomas. They gathered in the parking lot outside the home of Roberts, in the Glen Arms Apartments on E Sligh Avenue.

Inside was the apartment Roberts had shared with Thomas for a few months prior to the infant's death. Thomas had done a great job caring for the child, said Kenyatta McClairen, Roberts' cousin, echoing other family members.

"He was real good with babies, changing him and getting him ready to pick up his mom from work," said McClairen, 32, from Tampa.

Chadrick Thomas has a lengthy arrest record that includes battery, possessing a weapon school grounds and aggravated assault, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records. In July 2002, he was accused of leading Tampa police on a chase that ended with Thomas crashing a stolen Acura.

When he violated his probation in 2003, he was sent to prison. He was released in December after serving 18 months.

A few weeks ago, McClairen said her sister had tried to pick up the baby by placing her hands on his sides, but Zaconyae cried out in pain. Her sister told Roberts something was wrong with the boy and that she should take him to the doctor, McClairen said.

Roberts told her she already did, McClairen said. Roberts thought he had gas, she said.

The family is planning a funeral for 2 p.m. Saturday at Everett, Derr & Anderson Funeral Home.

As other relatives passed out T-shirts with Zaconyae's face emblazoned on the front, McClairen started to cry.

"It hurts my heart so bad," she said. "He was just a little baby."

[Last modified April 21, 2005, 10:17:14]