Boy, 3, Dies From Punch; Father Jailed

A 3-year-old boy died of liver damage after his father punched him more than once for playing too noisily during a televised Dallas Cowboys football game, police said.

James Thornton II remained jailed Tuesday on suspicion of injury to a child. His son died Monday in the operating room, and police and prosecutors were considering whether to pursue a capital murder charge.

The boy, also named James, underwent two surgeries to try to repair a liver damaged by more than one blow to the stomach, police said.

Thornton apparently got angry with his son for jumping around during the Cowboys’ 12-6 victory Sunday over the New England Patriots. Thornton hit his son three or four times, then put him in bed, police said.

The boy’s mother, 23-year-old Tonia McCarver, said she found her son lying unresponsive in a bedroom when she went to pick him up after the four-day visit with his father. She rushed him to the hospital.

Tonia McCarver, who is not married to Thornton, said she had been suspicious of him since her son suffered a broken arm while in his care in March 1994.

After that incident, James and his older sister, who has a different father, were placed in temporary foster care while state child abuse workers investigated.

No charges were filed. The parents ultimately said their son was injured when his crib fell over, but a doctor later told the court he suspected physical abuse.

A state lawsuit against the parents was dropped after they were ordered to attend parenting classes and counseling or undergo psychological testing.