(AP) -- SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (AP) -- Authorities say a baby sitter in South Carolina watching a 3-year-old girl who died in her care beat the girl with a belt after she used the bathroom on the floor.

Investigators told The Post and Courier of Charleston that 23-year-old Erica Butts is charged by homicide by child abuse in Serenity Richardson's death. Doctors say she had bruises over most her body and a large burn on her right leg.

Authorities say Butts was watching the child for Ieshia Richardson, a friend who was trying to move to South Carolina from Detroit.

Richardson was at a hearing Thursday where Butts was denied bond. Butts apologized to her over a monitor from the Charleston County jail.

Butts' lawyer called the incident a tragic event and said she has a clean criminal record.

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