ORLANDO, Fla. — Investigators said 3-year-old Charlie Sue Ann Brame suffered abuse so traumatic, they expected it would take her life.
The 3-year-old died at Arnold Palmer Hospital after being brought in with signs of trauma.
Investigators said the child's 19-year-old stepfather, Pascal Kaufmann, is charged with child neglect and sexual battery.
The German national married Charlie's mother, Emma Paige Liggett, on Nov. 17, just one week before the toddler was taken to the hospital.
WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said the charges will be upgraded.
"In all likelihood, what we're going to see is a charge of first-degree murder for the death of this child," said Sheaffer.
Kaufmann is being held without bail and on an immigration hold.
A friend of the girl's biological father told WFTV that the father had no comment.
WFTV
