BEL-RIDGE, MO (KTVI) – Saturday night a young father clutched a Christmas present for his 19-month old son, a toddler, who police say died Friday at the hands of his mother.

St. Louis County prosecutors charged 24-year old Valisa Ebberson with second degree murder and armed criminal action after County police detectives determined she stabbed Elijah Ebberson multiple times in their apartment in the 9100 block of Torchlite in Bel-Ridge.

Police were called to the scene by a relative of Ebberson to check on an “unresponsive” child.  Paramedics rushed the child to DePaul Hospital, but he could not be saved.

22-year old Leo Haines said he had difficulty communicating with his son’s mother since the child was born.  But his mother had kept in touch and sometimes cared for the boy.

Haines tried to describe his emotions upon learning of his son’s brutal death.  “I just felt a burst of something out of my body just come straight out,” he said.  Speaking to other parents, he added, “cherish, love them and know they are a part of you.”

Ebberson is being held on a $100,000 cash only bond.