Las Vegas 3-year-old whose death was initially reported as drowning IDd

A 3-year-old Las Vegas boy who died last week and whose father is accused of child abuse has been identified by the Clark County coroner as Dominick Degraffenreid.

The boy’s father, Brandon Nicholson, 27, was arrested Friday on suspicion of murder by child abuse, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Dominick suffered from bruises to the face, arms, fingers, genitals, legs, feet and back, according to an arrest report obtained by the Review-Journal. His left foot was “almost entirely encased in a solid bruise with the big toe split open,” the report says.

According to the arrest report, the injuries on the child’s body reflected “multiple stages of healing.”

Nicholson told police that he typically disciplined the child by “popping him in the face” and spanking the child with belts, fly swatters, phone charger cords and a 24-inch dog toy made of hard plastic. Nicholson told police he beat Dominick three to four times per week but sometimes every day.

It was initially reported that Dominick had drowned in the bathtub.

On the afternoon of May 12, Dominick was taken to University Medical Center, where he died.

The coroner has not determined his cause and manner of death.

Reporter Rachel Hershkovitz contributed to this article. Contact Lawren Linehan at llinehan@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0381. Follow @lawrenlinehan on Twitter.