An 18-year-old New Orleans man was arrested last week for allegedly murdering his 9-month-old stepson, court documents show.

Cornell Meare was booked into Orleans Justice Center on counts of first-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to juveniles. His bond was set at $2.75 million on Thursday during his first appearance in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.

New Orleans police say Meare was the last person to have custody of the baby before the child's mother found him unresponsive in a Little Woods residence about 9:24 a.m. on Aug. 27.

The infant, who had bruising on his cheek, nose and lip and blood in his right nostril, was taken from the home in the 7600 block of Scottwood Drive to New Orleans East Hospital, where he died, according to an arrest warrant affidavit signed Nov

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