INDIANA — A Western Pennsylvania prosecutor will pursue the death penalty against an 19-year-old man jailed on charges he fatally beat his girlfriend's 19-month-old son.

Joshua Louis Turner, of Black Lick, is charged with killing 19-month-old Leonard McIntire, who died in a Pittsburgh hospital a few days after he was beaten Oct. 27 at home.

The boy died of head trauma. Police say Turner at first said he was carrying the toddler on his shoulders when he fell and was hurt. But police say Turner eventually acknowledged beating, shaking, punching and biting the child.

Indiana County District Attorney Thomas Bianco says the victim's age is one factor in deciding to pursue the death penalty. Turner's attorneys didn't comment after he was ordered to stand trial Thursday.