Mother, Boyfriend Charged With Murder in 2-Year-Old's Death

A Philadelphia-area mother and her boyfriend have been charged with third-degree murder in the death of her toddler son.

Thirty-year-old Shannon Matthews of Chester and 31-year-old Daniel Grafton of Nether Providence are also charged in Delaware County with aggravated assault and related offenses.

Grafton was earlier arrested on child endangerment and reckless endangerment charges following the Feb. 3 death of 2-year-old Mason Hunt.

The Delaware County Daily Times reports that District Attorney Jack Whelan says the boy was "terrorized during the last two days of his life."

The medical examiner's office hasn't officially ruled on a cause of death but says the circumstances "are homicidal in nature."

The defendants declined comment as they were led from the courthouse Friday; their attorneys didn't immediately return calls seeking comment Saturday.