Godmother 'beats three-year-old girl to death for not eating her food' while toddler's mother was in U.S. hospital giving birth

A woman has allegedly beaten her three-year-old goddaughter to death while the toddler's mother was in hospital giving birth.

Latrice Walden was found with serious injuries on Monday morning and died after

she was taken to hospital in Richmond, Virginia.

The little girl's family say she was beaten to death by her godmother Danielle Turner, 24, because she would not eat her food, ABC 8 reported. 

Danielle Turner (left) allegedly beat her goddaughter Latrice Walden (right, with her mother Nikki Brown) to death while the toddler's mother was giving birth

Latrice (pictured with her mother) was found with serious injuries on Monday morning and died after she was taken to hospital in Richmond, Virginia

Latrice had been left in the care of Turner after the girl's mother, Nikki Brown, went into labor.

Turner, who is a medical professional and has been friends with Ms Brown for 10 years, is believed to have called 911 at 4.38am on Monday.

Police were told the child had fallen and had a black eye after hitting her head on a bathtub faucet.