FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -
A three-year-old girl remains in the hospital, after her mom says she was severely beaten by her live-in boyfriend.
The girl suffered major internal injuries to her liver, kidneys, pancreas and spleen.
The mother, who only wants to be identified as Carol, out of fear of retaliation, says 22-year-old Jesse Montemagno is the man who did it.
Fresno Police arrested Montemagno Thursday afternoon, after they got a tip he was living at his brother's home in Visalia.
Carol says, "I was surprised and relieved, because no kid needs to go through that." Reporter Erik Rosales asks, "What did he say?" Carol says, "The only thing he'd say is that if he ever did anything, he didn't mean it."
Carol says her daughter was beaten on January 30th inside their apartment, after she went to work.
Reporter Erik Rosales asks, "What were her injuries?" Mom of three-year-old says, "Her liver almost got cut in half, her spleen and her pancreas got damaged and her kidney, she had internal bleeding."
Carol says Montemagno is not the biological father, but he had taken care of the child in the past. Carol adds there's never been a problem.
Montemagno is in jail facing several felony charges of child abuse.
