Mount Vernon man charged with fatally beating 2-year-old girl

MOUNT VERNON, Westchester (WABC) -- There was raw emotion and palpable grief from relative of twin girls who were subjected to horrific child abuse. The physical violence left one two-year-old Addison Turner and her twin sister, Annalynn fighting for her life. Mount Vernon police have charged Derran Morris with murder and assault - the 23-year-old is the girl's mother's boyfriend.

"The guy wanted the girls to call him 'daddy' - he is not their dad," said the victims' grandfather, Eddie Turner.

Turner says Morris and his daughter moved into a basement apartment a little over a month ago from Bridgeport. During his last visit to see his granddaughters, Turner says he noticed something terribly wrong with one girl.

"Her two eyes swollen like someone punched her in the face. I said 'what happened to the baby?' she said she dropped her off her bed," Turner adds.

Turner says he tried to take the girls from the home, but they were ordered to be returned to their mother. On Wednesday, police responded to the house after a 911 call reporting one child was unresponsive. Morris was arrested.

According to court documents, both girls suffered similar injuries - multiple contusions, a lacerated liver and severe internal bleeding. Now relatives, and those in the community are in disbelief.

Morris was arraigned Friday morning and ordered held without bail.