FRANKLIN COUNTY (WSLS 10) - Three-year-old Callen Mullins died back in May from blunt force trauma. The suspect, Hope Perdue, is now charged with second degree murder.
According to deputies, Perdue's husband called 911 and, when crews arrived, Callen was pronounced dead.
Recommended Videos
According to unsealed search warrants, investigators took several items of clothing, jewelry, and a water hose nozzle believed to be used to cause marks on Callen's body.
According to an investigator, Hope Perdue's husband David Perdue, "wondered, out-loud, if the nozzle of the water hose could have been used to cause the marks on Mullins."
An officer said, based on pictures that were part of an initial examination, the water hose nozzle could have created the bruises and markings found on the boy's body.
[gallery ids="122665,122664,122666"]
David Perdue also told an investigator, he was sleeping, but got up when he heard a, quote, "thump thump."
He said he went into Callen's bedroom and saw the boy in Hope's arms. Hope told David, Callen was fine, and went into a bathroom and attempted to close the door on David. David said the pushed the door open and took the boy.
He called 911 and gave the child to EMS, who determined the boy was dead.
According to the documents, David Perdue was holding Callen's body when a volunteer rescue squad member arrived at the home.
That rescue squad member said Hope was "cussing and hollering" and had a substance on her that he couldn't identify because it was dark. He said Hope then turned and walked away toward a field.