Investigation into death of 3-year old girl beaten inside Brooklyn apartment

BUSHWICK -- Police are investigating the death of a 3-year-old girl who was found with bruises on her body inside a Brooklyn apartment.

Police say they received a 911 call Saturday afternoon from a neighbor who reported screams coming from inside the shelter on Cooper Street in Bushwick.

When police arrived, they found two children inside. The girl, Jeida Torres, was found unconscious and unresponsive.

An FDNY spokesman says Jeida was rushed to Wyckoff Hospital in cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead.

Her 5-year-old brother was also found with bruises on his body, and he is listed in stable condition.

The children were being watched by their mother's new husband, Kelsey Smith, who was not home when police arrived. Smith was watching the kids when Jeida accidentally soiled her clothing. Sources say that set off her stepdad.

"He backslapped the kid and caught her on the rib, and then he put her in the room," says relative Mark Almodovar.

After a while, Mark says the little girl came looking for the one person who was there to protect her.

"When she came out of the room, she was catching tantrums on the floor, and he thought she was just playing around, being upset cause she doesn't want to listen," Mark added.

Mark says Jeida's stepdad then realized the girl wasn't breathing, and he called his father desperately asking what to do. Family members say the 20-year-old gave Jeida CPR, called 911 and then took off. Hours later, police found him at a relative's home in Queens.

"He went in the bathroom, and tried to cut his veins," Mark says, "he felt guilty and tried to kill himself."

Police say charges against Smith are pending.

Jeida's mom, who is hiding her identity, was at work at the time.