Man held on $100,000 bail in child death

WORCESTER - The boyfriend of a Worcester woman whose 4-year-old daughter died after being brought to the hospital with bruising, rib fractures and internal injuries has been ordered held on $100,000 bail despite the fact authorities are still awaiting an official cause of death.

Richard Castillo and the child's mother, Lymari Acevedo, are charged with assault and battery on a child causing bodily injury and permitting substantial bodily injury to a child, after police were called Feb. 17 to investigate a report that Arianie Acevedo was unresponsive.

The Telegram & Gazette reports that Castillo's lawyer asked that his client be released on personal recognizance since the cause of death is pending and there is no evidence he hurt the child.

Prosecutors said based on the child's injuries, she did not die from natural causes.