Daily Republic, Jan. 10, 1998

Police say potty training led to toddler's death

OAKLAND--A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder for allegedly beating a toddler to death because the youngster was having problems with potty training, court officials said.

Damon Valery appeared in court Friday but didn't enter a plea, He is charged with murder with great bodily injury.

Dante Jones, 2, died from internal bleeding Sunday, police said. The boy's body also showed signs of "substantial abuse over time," including burns from scalding hot water and previously broken bones, said Alameda County Senior Deputy District Attorney Bob Platt.