ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- The mother of the 16-month-old baby girl allegedly killed at the hands of her own father spoke out Sunday.

"I just want my baby. I want a second to go and see her and hold her. I wanna hold her. I wanna take her home," said Keri Watson.

Watson sobbed as she talked to Channel 9 about her daughter, Serenity. She can't understand how her boyfriend, 21-year-old John Murphy could commit such a horrific crime. "I don't know what to think," Murphy said. "My kids love him."

Officers said the brutal murder began when Murphy got angry with his daughter Serenity because she was crying. Serenity reportedly threw up on herself, and police say when Murphy went to wash off the child, that's when the violence began.

Murphy allegedly shook Serenity vigorously, before throwing her against a tile wall in a shower. Murphy told detectives he left the child on the shower floor with the water running while he smoked a cigarette. Murphy said he tried CPR on the child and, when it didn't work, took her to his neighbors.

Serenity's life was starting to fade fast when she reached the arms of Isaac Chapelle and Nina Keme. Chapelle said he heard yelling and other noise in his neighbor's apartment, but never heard Serenity cry.

Nina, who is a trained medical assistant, tried to save the little girl by doing CPR.

Serenity was taken to the hospital, where she later died.

During his first appearance in court this morning, a judge ruled Murphy continue to be held without bond at the Orange County Jail. He is charged with second degree murder and aggravated child abuse.