INDIANAPOLIS -- The mother of a slain 4-year-old boy spoke with 6News from jail Sunday about her role in her son's death.

Police said Courtney Simpson's boyfriend, Christopher Montgomery, beat and tortured Elijah Simpson while she was present before the boy died, 6News' Cheryl Jackson reported.

By the time Simpson had taken Elijah to Community East Hospital Friday, he had already died from a skull fracture.

Simpson said Montgomery tied the boy's ankles and wrists to keep him from sucking his thumb. According to Simpson, the abuse that led to the boy's death began Thursday night inside a motel room.

Simpson said Montgomery ordered Elijah to stand in a corner because he sucked his thumb. The boy stood there for nearly four hours, but moved when he began to fall asleep, Simpson said.

"He went over to him and picked him up and threw him down, and then ... he started going into a seizure," Simpson said.

Simpson told Jackson that she tried to stop the attack but couldn't.

"I jumped up and tried to grab Chris ... and he just pushed me back and said, 'Shut up, b----, before you are next," Simpson said.

Simpson said she went to pick Elijah up off the floor and that he was crying softly as she told Montgomery that she need to get some help for the boy.

"He told me ... if I called the police I would be dead and my kids would be dead before they got there," Simpson said.

Simpson said everyone fell asleep and that Elijah wasn't breathing when she awoke.

"His heart was still beating, so we rushed him to the hospital, where they pronounced him dead," Simpson said. "I was just stupid and now it's too late."

Montgomery was charged with murder and Simpson was charged with felony neglect of a dependent.