A Columbia man who told authorities he accidentally kicked his 6-month-old daughter to death has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge.
The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that 20-year-old Cortavia Smith was arraigned Monday on the charge. The indictment, which was returned Friday, said his daughter died of blunt-force trauma to the head. His attorney didn't immediately return a phone message.
Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Knight charged him with child endangerment after his arrest in March but said more charges were anticipated. Police said in court documents that Smith told them that during the night the girl was crying and he moved her from her crib to his bed. Smith then told police he was having a dream and woke up and found that he kicked the child.
