Father Charged With Murder After Girl Dies From Abuse: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 32-year-old father's charges have been upgraded to first degree murder after his five-year-old daughter died over the weekend from child abuse injuries, St. Petersburg police said.

William Green was originally arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse with great body harm on Feb. 22, according to authorities. The victim experienced a severe head injury from the abuse, and had bite marks all over her body.

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A 32-year-old St. Petersburg man is accused of causing severe head trauma to a 5-year-old girl early Monday, St. Pete police said.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue officials and police responded to a call that involved an injured girl at 1:44 a.m. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital where medical staff said the girl had scarring on several places of her body that were caused by bite marks.

The suspect, William Green, was arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse with great bodily harm, according to Pinellas County Sheriff's Office arrest records.

Green's exact relationship with the victim was not given by police. The child was in his care when the abuse occurred.

Authorities last reported the girl in stable condition.