In a harrowing turn of events, a 2-year-old boy from Missouri, Bre’Yon Wells, met a tragic end on Monday after being strangled and sexually assaulted. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community and shed light on the grim realities some children face.

At the center of this tragedy is 21-year-old Nicco Cotton, who surrendered to authorities on Thursday. This was mere days after young Bre’Yon was rushed to a hospital in St. Louis with severe injuries. Reports indicate that Bre’Yon suffered from asphyxial and abdominal trauma, alongside injuries indicative of sexual assault. In a chilling confession reported by KSDK, Cotton admitted to the heinous acts of biting, strangling, and sexually assaulting the toddler, ultimately leading to his death.

The medical examiner’s office has confirmed that Bre’Yon was both strangled and sexually assaulted, officially classifying his death as a homicide, as reported by KTVI. The St. Louis Metro police further revealed that Cotton was either a close friend or the boyfriend of Bre’Yon’s mother, which adds another layer of heartbreak to the case.

According to KMOV, Bre’Yon was entrusted to Cotton’s care while his mother worked a grueling 10-hour shift. She expressed her devastation to the news outlet, recounting how she had left her son with someone she believed she could trust, only to return to the horror of her child being critically injured.

Wells’ mother told the news outlet that she left her son with someone she trusted while she did a 10-hour shift. She claimed she finished work to learn her son was seriously injured.

“I feel like my baby was put in positions he shouldn’t have been in because his mom didn’t have much support in life and no one to be there for her,” the mother said.

Cotton is charged with second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy, and statutory sodomy. He remains jailed without bond.

[Feature Photo: KMOV]