Amir Hines: Father charged with murder and child abuse after 5-year-old non-verbal autistic son dies due to severe 'bruising'

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA: A 24-year-old North Carolina father was taken into custody after it was reported that he killed his nonverbal, 5-year-old autistic son by severely beating him, causing a brain hemorrhage and leaving him bruised "from head to toe."

Following his arrest on New Year's Eve, Amir Devon Hines is charged with one count of murder and one count of felony intentional child abuse in connection with the death of Karter Holloway, according to the authorities.

Karter Holloway was intentional victim of child abuse

A Raleigh Police Department news release states that at approximately 10:30 p.m., officers were called to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hospital in reference to a male juvenile patient, age 5, who had been the victim of a "serious assault."

The hospital staff told first responders that the child, subsequently identified as Holloway, had injuries "consistent with a serious assault and that the assault occurred in Raleigh" when they arrived at the scene.

The boy was in critical condition when he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Police stated in the release that "investigators determined that the father of the child, Amir Devon Hines, 24, was responsible for the injuries," Law&Crime reported.

After being taken into custody, Hinses was accused of felony intentional child abuse that resulted in serious bodily harm.

Holloway died on January 1st after succumbing to his wounds. Hines, who was already under arrest, was then accused of killing the youngster.

Hines' most recent arrest occurred while he was on parole, according to WNCN, a Goldsboro CBS affiliate. He was reportedly given a six-year prison sentence after being found guilty on one count of felony robbery with a dangerous weapon. He was released in August of 2023.

Karter Holloway's family speaks out as father appears in court

In an interview with Raleigh NBC affiliate WRAL, Karter Holloway's grandmother, Tiffani Hines, talked about the boy who she claimed loved superheroes, and his grandmother.

Tiffani Holloway allegedly told the station, "He loved me. He couldn’t talk. He had words but he didn’t talk in sentences. He had ways of letting you know,” WRAL News stated.

Karter Holloway's Christmas presents were still unopened under her tree, according to Tiffani Holloway, who claimed that he was spending the holidays with his father at the time of the alleged beating.

Tears filled her eyes as she said, "I can't pick them up." When the grandmother spoke with Hines following Holloway's injuries, Hines informed her that the boy had fallen in the shower, the grandmother told the station.

Nevertheless, neither Tiffani Holloway nor the medical staff who attended Karter Holloway think that's the real story of the 5-year-old. Tiffani Holloway stated, "Medical reports told us the medical truth. Which was he was beaten all over. Karter had bruises from head to toe.”

Madi Holloway, Karter Holloway's mother, seemed to speak directly to Hines in a social media post. Due to his autism, he was unable to defend himself or speak. She posted on Facebook, "I know for a fact that he just sat there crying while you beat him for urinating in the bed."

"You are the father of this child. The person he was meant to feel secure in should not be afraid of you. How can you just sit there beating him while he's fawking and screaming? My baby died with fear in his eyes and heart."

When Hines appeared in court on Tuesday and the judge informed him that Karter had passed away, he seemed heartless, according to WRAL. Hines is being held under a $500,000 bond at the moment.

If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.