Grandfather says he tried to get custody of 1-year-old boy before his death

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The man accused of killing his girlfriend's 1-year-old son faced a judge for the first time Wednesday.

Daquan Harmon McFadden, 23, was charged with murder and felony child abuse inflicting serious injury.

The child's mother, 24-year-old Yasmine Danielle Richardson, was also charged with felony child abuse inflicting injury.

(McFadden, Richardson)

Police said Shaheim Richardson was rushed to the hospital from a south Charlotte hotel Tuesday morning.

Officers responded to the Best Western along East Woodlawn Road just before 10:45 a.m. and found the boy, who needed medical attention.

They said Shaheim Richardson died after being taken to the hospital.

In court Wednesday, a social worker told the judge she had found what she called "extensive injuries" on the boy prior to the day he died.

Channel 9's crime reporter Mark Becker said the toddler's grandfather Patrick Steele was visibly upset in court.

He told the juge he had tried to get custody of Shaheim Richardson through the courts, but a judge ruled against him.

"I'll put it to you this way, if my grandson is dead, the system must not work," Steele said. "Because I tried to do everything legal to take protect him and it didn't work. Now, I got to figure out how to bury my grandson."

McFadden is being held in jail on no bond and Richardson, who chose not to appear in court, is being held under a $50,000.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 704-334-1600.

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