Bushwick man pleads guilty in fatal beating of 3-year-old stepdaughter

BUSHWICK, N.Y. (WABC) -- A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty Friday to beating his 3-year-old stepdaughter to death for having a bathroom accident.

Kelsey Smith, 21, of Bushwick is expected to face 15 years to life in prison for assaulting his stepchildren - Jeida and Andrew Torres - fatally beating Jeida.

Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and second degree assault.

The incident occurred on Oct. 18, 2014 when Jeida told Smith she had an accident in her diaper, to which Smith became enraged and beat Jeida unconscious. Andrew had also been punched and beaten for trying to help his sister, prosecutors said.

Smith then called his wife and mother of Jeida and Andrew, saying that he "messed up" and hit Jeida and she was not breathing. Torres called the police, who went to the homeless shelter in Bushwick where Smith had been watching the children.

When police arrived at the scene, Smith was gone and had fled to the home of his stepfather's sister in Queens and slit his wrists, according to the prosecutor. He was taken to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment and psychiatric review.

The police took Jeida to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. The cause was later determined to be blunt force trauma. Andrew was treated for his injuries and released.

Smith had 15 prior arrests, before the fatal beating of his stepdaughter. Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Neil Firetog set sentencing for Nov. 6, 2015 and indicated that the defendant would spend 15 years to life in prison.

"This sentence ensures that the defendant will spend many years behind bars for beating and killing a helpless and beautiful three-year old girl," Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson said. "May he spend every single day that he's locked up thinking about that innocent child's life that he took."