Father admits he beat his daughter to death because she couldn't answer MATH questions correctly

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4705584/Father-beat-daughter-3-death-wrong-math-answers.html

Father admits he beat his daughter, three, to death because she couldn't answer MATH questions correctly and tells cops she 'had to be tough if she wanted to survive'

A Mississippi father has confessed to beating his three-year-old daughter to death because she couldn't answer math questions correctly and has told investigators 'she had to be tough if she wanted to survive.'

Joshua Salovich was charged with capital murder, meaning he could face the death penalty, and is being held without bail after the horrifying attack on Friday.

Detectives testified that the 25-year-old boxer in training beat toddler Bailey Salovich at maximum force with a bamboo rod, a cellphone cord and his hands.

Salovich also said 'this was a tough world and she had to be tough if she wanted to survive,' Meridian Police Chief Benny Dubose said Monday.

'She apparently did not want to participate and get the correct numbers,' Detective Kevin Boyd said.

'He said he would pop her with his hands on her butt and legs when she got a wrong answer... (he said he) backhanded her several times in the stomach because she kept getting it wrong.'

When Salovich was told the child died Boyd said he 'got upset. What he stated was, 'I killed my child. I killed my child,' according to the Meridian Star.

Dubose said it isn't clear whether Salovich is the child's biological father.

Salovich's court-appointed lawyer didn't immediately respond to a phone message and an email seeking comment Monday evening.

Police were called Friday afternoon after the child arrived at a local emergency room with bruises and cuts all over her body, and at least one head wound, Dubose said.

Questioning Salovich and the child's mother separately, Dubose said Salovich told police that he was asking the toddler questions about numbers and would 'pop' her when she answered incorrectly.

Salovich said he had used the same method to discipline the child at least five times per week, Dubose said. Salovich told police he used a bamboo rod until it broke, then switched to a cellphone cord to administer some of the licks. Other blows came from his hand.