Child abuser charged with murder after girl, 8, dies SIX years after he struck her in the head

A CHILD abuser has been charged with murder after an eight-year-old girl died six years after he struck her in the head.

Thomas Abitz, 29, has been charged with the 2017 death of Mckena Marie Nett – who died of pneumonia six years after the incident.

Abitz, of Wisconsin, has already been serving a prison sentence for the abuse of the young girl.

Experts say that the pneumonia that led to the girl's death was caused by an injury sustained at the hands of Abitz, according to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney.

Toney told the judge on Monday: "The abusive head trauma resulted in significant impairment for the victim moving forward with multiple bouts of pneumonia over the course of years.

"And then in 2017 the victim passed away from pneumonia which was linked to the abusive head trauma by the medical examiner, Dr. Kelley; Dr. Coller, the treating pediatrician; as well as Dr. Knox, who was the original child abuse expert physician."

The incident took place in March 2011 in the apartment where Nett lived with her mother, who at the time was Abitz's girlfriend.

At the time, Abitz said he was playing with the child and unintentionally hit her head against a wall, WBAY reported.

However, doctors disagreed with this claim and said that he injuries were abusive head trauma.

Abitz was convicted of child abuse and was given a 13-year sentence.

Nett died in 2017 and at the time an extensive investigation into her medical records was completed which led to a homicide charge to be filed.

Toney told the court: "We focus on various reports from our doctors and those are reflected in our criminal complaint and that's what resulted in the allegations and the filing here."

Abitz's preliminary hearing is schedule for October 30.

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