Man charged in 10-year-old son's fatal beating

SOUTH BEND (WISH) - A South Bend man is facing murder and battery charges after police said he restrained his 10-year-old son with duct tape and beat him to death, 24-Hour News 8 news partner WSBT reports.

Officers were called to the Sturgis home at about 4 a.m. Friday morning, after 10-year-old Tramelle Sturgis was found not breathing. The boy was taken by emergency crews to an area hospital but was pronounced dead there.

Police said emergency room doctors got conflicting information from the parents on what happened, so homicide detectives were called to investigate. Friday afternoon, police announced 35-year-old Terry Sturgis, Tramelle's father, had been charged with murder and battery.

The boy's injuries included a broken arm, broken leg, cuts to his head and bruises all over his body, police said, and he also had scars and marks that appeared to come from a switch or a whip.

Nine children were in the home when the beating allegedly occured. They told police Tramelle and his 14-year-old brother were tied up with duct tape and beaten by their father through the night. One of the other children told officers the 10-year-old was beaten until he collapsed and lost consciousness.

Police said Terry Sturgis admitted to police that he beat both brothers with various objects, including his fists, a belt and a wooden club.

The other children are being interviewed and examined by Child Services.