A DeRidder man was indicted Wednesday on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of a 2-year-old boy who was left in his care.

According to the indictment, Forrest Edward Menard, 22, killed the toddler in early November while “engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of cruelty to juveniles or second-degree cruelty to juveniles.”

Beauregard Parish District Attorney James Lestage said Menard will likely be arraigned next week. The trial has been assigned to Judge C. Kerry Anderson.

Menard was charged with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile Nov. 3 when authorities responded to a report of an unresponsive child, officials said.

DeRidder Police Chief John Gott said the child was taken to Beauregard Memorial Hospital with injuries to his head, neck and body. 

He was diagnosed with severe head trauma and was flown to a Shreveport hospital, where he died the next day.

Menard’s charges were upgraded that same day.