Man arrested in child abuse case

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Pensacola Police arrested a man as part of the same child abuse investigation that landed Nicole Henderson in jail for allegedly beating four children with a belt.

Cornelius Jones, 30, of Pensacola, was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 26, charged with one count of aggravated battery on a child. Henderson, 30, was arrested on Sept. 21 and charged with four counts of of aggravated child abuse.

Police said Henderson beat four children in her care with a belt and left visible injuries on them.

The other children, aged two, four, five and six, have been removed from the home by the Department of Children and Family Services. One of the children under Henderson's care, Markevion Hixon, 3, was with her because his mother died and his father was imprisoned.

Police began their investigation after medical examiners found injuries on Hixon's body (abdomen, legs, arms, chest back and buttocks) during an autopsy; the toddler died when he choked on a hot dog.

Related: Family says abuse allegations are untrue

During the investigation, an anonymous caller told police that both Henderson and Jones disciplined the three-year-old with a belt after he had a bowel movement in his pants.

The investigation and examination of the other children revealed they also had markings similar to HIxon's on their bodies.

Police said Henderson admitted to using a belt when disciplining them.

Pensacola police said their investigation is ongoing.