Arrest Made In Murder Of 2-Year-Old NH Boy
MANCHESTER, NH (CBS) - Manchester Police arrested Mark Heath on two counts of second-degree murder in the death of a toddler. He lived with the child in a second floor apartment on Howe Street.
Now, others in the house are wondering how well they knew their neighbor.
"I can't wrap my head around it," said neighbor Eric Landry. Eric Landry tried to comprehend that someone entrusted with caring for a child did the opposite.
The medical examiner says 2-year old Jacob Pelletier was hit so hard in the stomach area that he died.
"For that to happen, I don't understand where the mindset is on that," said Landry.
Jacob's mother lives in the apartment with Mark Heath. Heath who is 32 years old, is now charged with killing the little boy.
Manchester Police were called to the multi-family on Howe Street late Monday morning. The caller said the toddler was unconscious. Jacob was pronounced dead a short time later.
"Makes me second guess everything and take a second look who it is that I allow around my children," said Landry.
Landry lives on the first floor. He wonders what went wrong in the apartment above him. He was at work when police were called to the home. Officers then spent two days going through the apartment.
As a father of three himself, Landry wonders how anyone could hurt a child. "I actually have a three year old daughter who makes googly eyes at him, it's kind of cute. He's a very, very sweet kid, very loving, very outgoing," said Landry. "It's why, that's really the biggest question is why would somebody do that."
Jacob's mother has not returned to the apartment.
Heath will be arraigned Thursday afternoon.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral costs.
