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Baby's death brings murder indictment

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By HERNANDO TODAY STAFF

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - A grand jury is calling it murder.

David McBurnett Jr., 19, was indicted for first-degree murder in the beating death of his girlfriend's 1-year-old son, Hunter Morris. The child, who suffered internal bleeding, a rib fracture and "numerous contusions," died in the hospital on Sept. 12.

McBurnett was arrested by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 11.

The child's mother, Breanna Underwood, was not charged.

The alleged beatings occurred between March 2009 and Sept. 10 while McBurnett lived with Underwood and her son on Geronimo Street.

The child's mother told investigators McBurnett struck the victim on "numerous" occasions because the boy was crying, a report states. McBurnett used his fists, a sandal and a remote control to hit him and would occasionally squeeze the boy's face, according to a report.

In an interview with detectives, McBurnett admitted to the acts and said he did it to make the child stop crying, according to a report.

The grand jury also indicted McBurnett for aggravated child abuse.

Neither Assistant State Attorney Pete Magrino, who is prosecuting the case, nor defense attorney Ellis Faught Jr. were available for comment Friday.

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