Critical timeline in toddler's brutal death

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno toddler suffered a brutal death, and his injuries give important clues about who killed him.

"The cause of death is fatal child abuse syndrome with the immediate causes being blunt force injuries of the chest and abdomen," said Dr. Michael Chambliss, a forensic pathologist with the Fresno County coroner's office.

Syre Bridges was killed three weeks shy of his second birthday. Xavier Hawkins is on trial for his murder. Syre had 23 months of life before a vicious attack ripped it away.

Hawkins was supposed to be taking care of the toddler that day in November 2011. By the afternoon, Syre was in the hospital and coroners got their first look at the abuse.

"The injuries were primarily bruises over the entire body," Dr. Chambliss said.

The photos show the boy had bruises covering his body -- just about from head to toe. An autopsy revealed even deeper damage -- lacerations to his liver, bleeding around the intestines and pancreas. Syre had suffered a barrage of blows.

"That could be multiple punches to the body to produce enough force to cause some of these injuries," Dr. Chambliss said. He testified kicking and stomping could also explain the extensive harm.

Worst of all were the broken ribs -- three on one side and two on the other. "It's very difficult to break a child's ribs because of the nature which they are at that particular age," Dr. Chambliss said.

Hawkins was alone with the boy before his death, but his attorney says he isn't responsible for the attack. He says drugs, depression and deception all play a role in the case, and implied the attack may have happened before Hawkins took over the boy's care.

It all comes down to the timeline.

Dr. Chambliss said the injuries would've probably killed Syre within an hour. His mother, Emiley, had left the house about two hours before Hawkins called 911. After his arrest, Emiley bridges told me she wants Hawkins to suffer in jail the same way he made her son suffer.

If he's convicted, he'd serve a life sentence.