Roseanne Key, Mother Of Dead Toddler Arrested In Child Abuse Case

BRIGHTON, Colo. -- The mother of a 2-year-old boy who died after police said he was beaten by the mother's boyfriend has been charged in her son's death.

Roseanna Gene Key, 23, was arrested Wednesday and held at the Adams County Detention Center under a $100,000 bond. She has been charged with child abuse resulting in death.

Key's son, Michael Harris, died of inteal injuries on Feb. 2

Hours after the death, Key's former boyfriend, Donald Jean Scarlett, 31, was arrested in connection with Michael's death. The boy's grandfather, Michael Key, told 7NEWS he believes that Scarlett beat the boy to death.

"We know for a fact that (Scarlett) is responsible for this whole thing," said Michael Key on Thursday. "He is trying everything he can do to point fingers at everyone he can point fingers at."

Scarlett had posted bond from his earlier arrest but surrendered at the Brighton police department on Wednesday after prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. He is being held without bond.

As Brighton police officers continued their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the toddler's death, they recommended that felony charges also be filed against Roseanna Key, and the district attoey's office agreed.

Officers would not elaborate on what role Roseanna played in the death of her 20-month-old son. The arrest affidavit for Roseanna Key and Scarlett are sealed.

Two detectives went to Michael Key's house Thursday moing to question him about the case.

"We know for a fact that Rosanna Key is innocent of all charges because she grew up in this house, the kids were here. We loved the kids here and we told them anything we could give them information to that she is innocent," Michael Key said.

He said the family doesn't have the money to bond Roseanna Key out, so she may remain behind bars for a while and will miss her son's funeral. 

Roseanna Key Told 7NEWS Michael Had Been Removed From The Home

Brighton police said Scarlett called 911 to report a medical emergency at his home on Feb. 1.

Michael was rushed to Platte Valley Medical Center and then transferred to The Children's Hospital in Aurora, where he was taken off life support the next evening.

In an interview with CALL7 Investigator John Ferrugia last week, Roseanna Key said she had recently cleaned up her life, and Adams County Human Services Department had recently retued Michael and his brother to her.

Adams County had taken Roseanna Key's children because she had a marijuana habit and lived with her father and his wife -- an environment where social workers had found alcohol and drugs.

"The house wasn't clean enough," said Roseanna Key. "My parents fight a lot. They drink and do drugs."

But Roseanna Key said she tued her life around, taking parenting classes and quitting marijuana.

"I did so good in six months, I got them back," she told Ferrugia. "I went and got a job. I got my own place."

She said the first indication of a problem with her son came when Scarlett called her at work to tell her Michael wasn't breathing.

"I was freaking out at the point," Roseanna Key said, adding she told Scarlett to call 911.