(ASHEVILLE) -- A 4-year-old boy dies a brutal death, and a 24-year-old man is charged with murder. The Buncombe county sheriff's office has charged William Hedden of Candler with first degree murder for the alleged beating death of a child.

Buncombe County E-M-S responded to a 9-1-1 call from the boy's distraught mother shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday. After they arrived at the Candler home, the E-M-S workers summoned the Sheriff's department.

Lieutenant Randy Sorrells said it is a tough case. "I don't remember when the last child death we had was. If you've ever had one, it's one too many," said Sorrells.

The boy showed obvious signs of blunt force trauma and other injuries, according to Sorrells. Hedden was set to make his first court appearance Wednesday morning.

(Thanks to: WWNC)