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Norfolk father charged with child abuse, neglect after 4-year-old's death

Hank Smith is the third person charged in connection to the death of his 4-year-old son.

NORFOLK, Va. — A father has been arrested and charged on Friday in connection to the death of his 4-year-old son in Norfolk.

Investigators said 4-year-old Larkin Carr was unconscious inside a home on Sangamon Avenue on November 12, 2018. A paramedic said the 4-year-old had no pulse and bruises on roughly 60 percent of his body.

Medics took the boy to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters where he was pronounced dead.

MORE: Medical Examiner: Child had between 80 to 90 bruises on body when he died

A third person is now charged in connection to the boy's death.

On May 3, 40-year-old Hank Smith Jr. from the 800 block of Norview Avenue was arrested for Child Abuse and Neglect in connection to the case. Search warrants confirmed Smith is Carr's biological father.

Credit: Norfolk Police Department
Hank Smith Jr.

A 14-year-old boy, who has been in custody since January for previous offenses, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the case. 

In January, the mother of the teenager, Catherine Seals, was also charged with child abuse and neglect. On May 1, a grand jury indicted Catherine Seals for the murder of the boy. 

Credit: Norfolk Sheriff's Office
Catherine Seals

Seals was dating Carr's father, Hank Smith. Norfolk police said she would leave Carr in the care of her 14-year-old son sometimes. 

Court documents said that neither the mother nor Larkin's dad was present when the abuse that led to the toddler's death took place. However, prosecutors alleged Seals knew about the ongoing abuse.

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