Deputies say a 10-year old girl with cerebral palsy was killed by her mother's boyfriend -- a volunteer firefighter.
According to arrest warrants, 31-year old David "Tony" Tyre caused the girl's death "by shaking the child and dropping the child on her head, and the death occurred under circumstances mainifesting an extreme indifference to human life".
An incident report from the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office states the abuse occurred on Sunday at the girl's home in Boiling Springs while her mother was at work. 10-year old Meah Weidner, who could not speak and was confined to a wheelchair, was taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Investigators say she died from brain injuries on Tuesday.
Investigators say Tyre told them, "I must have shaken her too hard." They say he also admitted to breaking her arm on June 22nd and lying to her mother and doctors about how it happened, telling them she had fallen out of bed. Tyre was arrested on Thursday and charged with homicide by child abuse and felony child abuse. As of Friday evening, he was still in the Spartanburg County Detention Center and had not had a bond hearing.
But Meah's grandfather says the family believes Tyre did not intentionally hurt the girl.
"From what I understand, he was playing too rough with her," says Rev. Larry Monday, pastor of Whitney Freewill Baptist Church. Monday says Tyre was swinging Meah back and forth and "accidentally hit her head".
"Tony was always really good with her children," says Monday. "I didn't know him for long, but he seemed like a great guy. That's why all of this is such a surprise to us."
Tyre had served as a volunteer firefighter with Hilltop Fire Department in Spartanburg since 2002. Chief John Hall says he resigned earlier this week "citing personal reasons". He says Tyre was a good firefighter and always could be counted on to respond to calls.
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