NEW CASTLE, Ind. -- A man charged with beating a 3-year-old girl faces more serious charges after the child died from her injuries.

Kaitlynne Jennings, of New Castle, was pronounced dead in Methodist Hospital's pediatric intensive care unit Friday evening, four days after she was found unconscious.

The Marion County coroner's office said her death was caused by blunt force trauma to her head. Authorities said her injuries included two skull fractures, bleeding in the brain and a broken neck.

Henry County Prosecutor Kit Crane said Sunday that the charge pending against Jeremiah A. Hoots, 29, live-in boyfriend of the girl's mother, would likely be changed, but couldn't say yet what the charge would be. Hoots was being held in the Henry County jail Sunday under a $140,000 bond, charged with battery, a felony carrying a prison term of six to 20 years.

The girl's mother, Crystal A. Pollit, called authorities on Dec. 17 after finding her daughter unresponsive. The girl was taken to Henry County Hospital, then flown by air ambulance to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

One of the victim's two young brothers told investigators Hoots had tried to persuade him to take the blame for the girl's injuries. Hoots, meanwhile, told police the girl was hurt while wrestling with her brothers.

Both boys denied hurting their sister, and authorities said her injuries were not consistent with those that could have been caused by other young children.

The Henry County Justice Center will be closed for the Christmas holiday Monday and Tuesday. When the building reopens Wednesday, "we look to be filing paperwork to upgrade charges," Crane said.