RADFORD, Va. – UPDATE (4/20/20):
Search warrants obtained by 10 News reveal details about the brutal attack on a Radford woman, whose 2-year-old daughter’s death is now the focus of a police investigation.
Police said the suspect, 33-year-old Andrew Byrd, picked up the child’s mother from work late Thursday night. She said she noticed something was wrong with her child and wanted to take her to the hospital, but Byrd refused, punched the woman and sped off towards a house on 9th Street in Radford.
Andrew Byrd search warrants
Once inside, police said Byrd continued to hit the woman, even grabbing her by the hair and pulling her around and strangling her.
At one point, Byrd allegedly hit the woman with the butt of a shotgun and forced the barrel down her mouth.
Police discovered a shotgun, meth and other drug paraphernalia inside the home, according to search warrants.
A city spokesperson said this is a tragedy that has rocked the entire community.
“The police department is making this, of course, a top priority case and they’re working all angles and working diligently at all hours to solve this case and get justice for this little girl,” said Jenni Wilder, the public information officer for the City of Radford.
Investigators are still waiting for the girl’s autopsy results to come back as early as Tuesday before filing any additional charges.
UPDATE (4/20/20):
The 2-year-old girl was found unresponsive on Friday and 33-year-old Andrew Byrd was arrested then.
On Sunday, the police department announced that it was now conducting a death investigation in connection with this incident.
Byrd is not related to the 2-year-old.
UPDATE (4/19/20):
The Radford Police Department is now conducting a death investigation related to the unresponsive person found Friday.
A department spokesperson made the announcement Sunday, saying the victim is a juvenile.
Police are still investigating.
PREVIOUS STORY (4/17/20):
A Radford man has been arrested after police say they were called about an unresponsive person early Friday morning.
Authorities say officers responded to the 100 block of Ninth Street around 2:12 a.m. and a victim was taken to the New River Valley Medical Center.
After investigating, authorities found that there was a domestic incident involving a weapon. Andrew Byrd, 33, was arrested around 8:25 a.m. without incident.
Authorities say Byrd has been charged with abduction, strangulation as well as assault and battery of a household member.
Byrd is at the New River Valley Regional Jail without bond.