EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say a 2-year-old has died of injuries suffered in an alleged child abuse case in South Dakota, and a person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press the boy is the son of Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson.
Lincoln County State’s Attorney Tom Wollman confirmed the death of the child Friday. He had been in critical condition in a hospital with severe head injuries since Wednesday.
Peterson declined to talk about the case while at practice Friday, and prosecutors and police in South Dakota declined to confirm the boy was his son. However, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the connection on condition of anonymity because Peterson had requested privacy in the matter.
A 27-year-old man, Joseph Patterson, has been charged with battery in the child’s death.
