NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — There’s new information in a devastating case out of Norfolk.
Investigators have now ruled the November death of 4-year-old Larkin Carter Carr a homicide.
A 14-year-old is charged with second-degree murder in his death.
10 On Your Side spoke with the little boy’s mother and she said she’s hopeful the new charge is one step closer to justice for her son.
We first told you about this case in January.
That’s when the 14-year-old boy and his mother were charged for other offenses relating to the toddler.
“It’s rough, so I do a lot of crying. I think about him all the time,” said Tracey Quinones. “I didn’t expect it, but I had my suspicions when I noticed the bruises.”
MORE: Norfolk judge says “I may go vomit” upon review of 4-year-old’s death
On November 12, Norfolk police responded to a home on Sangamon Avenue and found Larkin unresponsive. He was taken to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters where he was pronounced dead.
In January, Catherine Seals was charged with two counts of child abuse and neglect. We’re told Seals was engaged to Larkin’s father.
Seal’s 14 year-old son was also charged with strangulation. Those charges stemmed from incidents allegedly involving Larkin and his 3-year-old brother in 2018.
“Larkin would tell me that the 14-year-old would hit him,” Quinones said. “It was told to me that what Larkin was saying wasn’t true and everything was fine.”
Quinones said she took pictures of the bruises and sent the information to Norfolk Child Protective Services.
“When they had checked the home and checked everything out, they had told me that everything was OK,” she said.
During a bond hearing in January, a Norfolk prosecutor said Larkin had suffered from blunt-force trauma to his head and stomach, and that his body was covered with 70 to 90 bruises.
The prosecutor also said the teen later admitted to police that he slammed a chair into Larkin’s stomach and repeatedly punched him while he was watching him on Nov. 9.
According to the prosecutor, Larkin became very sick that weekend but was never taken to the hospital.
He was found unresponsive that following Monday.
“I trusted them with my children,” Quinones said. “I hope he gets the justice he deserves.”
The 14-year-old’s mother, Catherine Seals, has not been charged with Larkin’s murder but she is still at the Norfolk jail without bond on the previous charges of abuse and neglect.
We will continue to follow this story for you and let you know of any updates.