STOVER — A central Missouri mother and her boyfriend have been charged in the fatal beating of a toddler whose injuries initially were blamed on a highway hit-and-run.
Online court records show that 21-year-old Thomas Presley and 25-year-old Jamie Ann Litton — both of Stover — face one count each of second-degree murder in the death of Litton's son, 3-year-old Blake Litton. Jamie Litton also faces two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The Morgan County sheriff's department says Blake was pronounced dead at a Sedalia hospital Thursday morning.
Authorities were first told he was struck by a hit-and-run driver along Missouri 135. Investigators said they believe Presley staged the hit-and-run to cover up a beating.
No attorneys were listed for the couple in online court records Friday.
