HOUSTON -- A Texas father has been charged with capital murder after his son died following an alleged beating.
Anthony Trakemon Powell appeared in court Tuesday over allegations that he struck his 3-year-old son Tristan "on the head with an open hand," according to release from the Houston Police Department.
Powell's sister Prosha Land said in court documents she saw Powell "discipline" her nephew "multiple times" with "his hand and with a belt" for several accidents and "lack of progress" in his son's potty training.
Land said last week she observed Powell strike Tristan in the head after he had an accident, causing the toddler to fall from a standing position to his bottom. Then, Land said in court documents, she said Powell picked up his son, "like a rag doll," and hit him again, in the head. The final strike knocked him over, causing him to again hit his head on the tile floor.
After the incident, Land said Tristan "exhibited unusual behavior," and repeated several times "he was sleepy."
Tristan Powell
The boy, who usually wanted to be held by Land, only wanted to lie on the floor, his aunt said in court documents.
The next morning, Powell woke up Land to tell her that Tristan wasn't breathing. Land recalls hearing Tristan wheezing in a manner that sounded like an asthma attack. She tried to administer a "breathing treatment," she said in court documents, but he was unresponsive, so she called 911.
Doctors said Tristan suffered brain swelling and multiple skull fractures. He died a day later.
Anthony Trakemon Powell and Prosha Land.
KHOU reports prosecutors described Powell's actions once he was arrested.
“The defendant’s attitude was fairly nonchalant. In fact, according to witnesses, he was counting his money as he was riding to the hospital in the ambulance," said Connie Spence, a prosecutor in the case.
Harris County Judge Catherine Harris set bond Tuesday for Powell at $250,000
After the family arrived at Texas Children’s Hospital, a police officer noticed Tristan’s younger brother was also hurt.
A second son, younger than Tristan, was also hospitalized after Powell allegedly scalded him with hot water.
Land, who referred to Tristan as the "boy she never had," has been charged for failing to stop or report the assaults to her nephews. She remains in jail on $30,000 bond.
According to court documents, the boys had been living with his mother in Jasper, Texas, had been staying with his father since May 10. The victim's mother said she allowed her sons to go to Houston with his father so Powell could get to know them better.
CNN's attempts to reach attorneys for Powell and Land were unsuccessful Wednesday.
Anthony Trakemon Powell
According to court documents, Powell admitted to striking Tristan with a belt because he was trying to potty train him, but he denies striking him in the head. Land said she loved Tristan as if he were her own child.
Felicia Tukes, the boy's grandmother, remembered him as a little boy with a big smile.
“You know, he was three so we was still working, just patient,” Tukes said about the child's potty training progress.
Neighbors lit candles Tuesday at the door of the apartment where the alleged crime happened.
“It makes you want to go home and hug and kiss your kids, make sure nobody harm your kids," said Naena Daidon, who lives nearby.
