According to Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, local police were dispatched to an apartment near Gretna, Louisiana on June 6 to try and revive an unresponsive infant, Da-Von Lanzo.

The baby was rushed to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead, reports CNN.

After the initial investigation, the medical examiner concluded the baby's death was a homicide. He said the baby had several fractures that indicate he had been beaten, he added the child also suffered rectal tears.

Police say Ross has a sordid history with the law and is believed to have been arrested for drug possession charges; obscenity; battery on a correctional officer; three counts of battery on a school teacher; theft; weapons charges; and assault.

During questioning, Ross said the baby stopped breathing after he fell down the steps while he was baby-sitting. But investigators began to notice inconsistencies in Ross' story when neighbors said they heard loud noises coming from the apartment.

Ross later admitted to hitting the infant repeatedly when he started to cry. Police say he "confessed to beating the infant repeatedly. According to Ross, the child began to defecate on himself. Ross claims he placed his fingers inside the infant's rectum in an attempt to clean up the child."

The suspect faces first-degree murder and aggravated rape charges. Spokesman John Fortunado of Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said that a 17-year-old can be tried as an adult under Louisiana law.