Boy, 12, Charged in Beating Death of Toddler Half Brother

A 12-year-old Florida boy has been charged in the vicious beating death of his 2-year-old half-brother. David Galarriago died two days after he was hospitalized with a severe skull fracture and facial bruising. Big brother Cristian Fernandez admitted beating the toddler, and said he also broke the little boy's leg months earlier, police said. If convicted of the first-degree murder charge against him, Galarriago could spend life in prison. The murder charge is "disturbing—but when you have to balance the safety of other children in the home and in the community, it is not so disturbing," said the state attorney. The boy's mom also faces charges for covering up the beating, reports the New York Daily News. (More crime stories.)