The autopsy also showed the girl had healing fractures to about seven ribs and the fractures appeared to be about two or three weeks old. Deonte Evans told police that two or three weeks ago he hit the girl with one “swift and powerful” open hand to the torso, court documents say.

Deonte Evans' criminal history includes 2009 charges for second-degree assault and resisting arrest.

Melvia Whitfield, 69, who lives four doors from the parents, was horrified after learning of the child's death.

"It broke my heart," she said sadly. "She was a cute little ole baby."

Whitfield said the father appeared to be a "nice young man" who often spoke to her.

"I never would have thought he would have done anything like that," she said. "It's so unfortunate."

Maria Maxwell, 77, who also lives on Rowan Avenue, didn't know the family but expressed compassion for the baby girl.

"It broke my heart," she said when she heard what happened in her neighborhood. All she could think about was the reason he gave to beat the baby girl.

"He said she stole a piece of cake," she said. " A baby doesn't know anything about stealing. That is really sick."

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