Charges Issued For Child Abuse Resulting In Death
ST. LOUIS COUNTY – On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Victor Pickering, 26 years of age, of the 400 block of Thrift Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63137, with Abuse or Neglect of a Child Resulting in Death. A booking photo of Pickering is attached. Pickering is being held on $500,000 cash only, no 10%, bond.
Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The probable cause statement reads: L.P. was a three-year-old child. Defendant is twenty-six. On May 2, 2023, L.P. was left in the care of Defendant. Police were called to the residence (400 block of Thrift Avenue in Riverview) and L.P. was rushed to the hospital with several injuries.
The Defendant told authorities that L.P. fell off the back steps, approx. a 2-3 foot fall. L.P. suffered from serious head injuries, abdominal injuries, bruises on several parts of his body, a lacerated liver, lacerated pancreas, possible bowel injury, mesenteric bleed, retinal hemorrhaging, acute right clavicle fracture, frontal subdural hematoma, and cerebral edema. L.P. died as a result of these injuries (on May 9, 2023).
Medical professionals from Children’s Hospitals have indicated that these injuries are not consistent with the Defendant’s version of events, but instead are indicative of non-accidental trauma and child maltreatment. Witnesses indicated that L.P. appeared fine before being left with Defendant, and the Defendant also stated the same.
The Defendant is currently on probation out of Benton County for Domestic Assault under Cause Number 19SO-CR00012-01.
The deceased has been identified as Levi Pickering, 3 years of age, of the 400 block of Thrift Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63137. The suspect is the child’s father.
St. Louis County Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives are leading this investigation.
