A mother in South Carolina, devastated by the death of her 4-year-old daughter at the hands of her boyfriend, broke down in court Friday as she spoke to him at a bond hearing, asking, “Why would you do something like this to her?”
It was revealed that he purposefully abused the special needs girl and caused her death through “non-accidental” blunt force trauma, according to police.
“You didn’t have to hurt my baby,” said mother Ashley Caris, sobbing in court. “She was my whole world. … Tyler, I hate you. “I absolutely despise you.”
Tyler David Ternberg, 28, has been charged with homicide by child abuse in the death of Addison Carr, who was born without oxygen and required a feeding tube to move around, according to her mother.
According to local FOX affiliate WHNS, Addison was allegedly killed the day after Christmas, and her autopsy revealed that she suffered “non-accidental” blunt force trauma. Her death was ruled a homicide by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.
“I’m just sad and mad at the same time,” Carr’s father, Stanley Carr, told WHNS following Ternberg’s bond hearing. “I don’t know how somebody could do this to somebody like Addie.”
Authorities believe Ternberg was Caris’ boyfriend and was caring for Addison at the time of her death. It’s unclear how he allegedly caused the child’s “non-accidental” injuries; all we know is that they were caused by blunt force trauma and were fatal.
“She was beaten and shaken until she lost her life,” according to Addison’s GoFundMe page.
Friends and family launched the online fundraiser, with Stanley Carr listed as a “team member” and recipient, to help with funeral costs and other expenses associated with Addison’s death.
“She had several health issues from the day she was born, but she was a light and a joy to so many people,” according to her biography.
Addison’s father told WHNS that he will never forget his daughter for the joy she brought into the world.
“My biggest thing is just remembering that smile from her all the time,” he told me. “She was just a sweetheart.”
