Milwaukee man charged in the death of 5-year-old boy

MILWAUKEE -- A 25-year-old Milwaukee man has been criminally charged in connection with the death of a 5-year-old boy.

Darrell L. Rogers was charged with first-degree reckless homicide in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Friday. 

According to the criminal complaint:

The child's mother left her son, Damion Davis, with Rogers as she worked her second-shift job on November 26. She told police that she stopped home for about 45 minutes during her break at 6 p.m. that evening and that her son was fine. Before she left, Rogers told her that she would help Davis with his homework, give him a shower, feed him and put him to bed.

Davis' mother returned to her apartment on East Slinger Circle at about 10:20 p.m. and looked in on her son, who was lying in bed with covers on. She said she thought he was asleep and did not check on him further. Rogers told her that he had slipped and fallen in the shower and that his head put a dent in the shower wall, but the mother did not see or feel any injuries on Rogers' head.

The next morning, Davis' mother went into his bedroom to wake him, and found that her son's body was stiff and cold, still in the same position as when she checked on him the night before. She immediately dialed 911.

The autopsy report has not been released, but the criminal complaint read that the performing doctor noted numerous bruises, contusions and lacerations on the child's body. The doctor ruled the death a homicide, noting that the child also suffered severe head and abdominal injuries, a direct result of blunt force trauma.

Rogers is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 10.