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SMITHFIELD, N.C. -- The mother of a 4-year-old girl who police say was beaten to death by the woman’s boyfriend appeared in court Friday on child abuse charges.

Jonathan Richardson, 21, is charged with murder in connection with the death of Teghan Skiba, but police say the girl’s mother, Helen Reyes, knew she was being abused.

"She neglected to carry out the motherly duties and actually left her 4-year-old little girl with a guy that she knew had been beating her in her presence," Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said.

Richardson took Skiba to the hospital last week saying she had fallen out of bed but doctors called authorities when they discovered human bite marks, bruises, cuts, severe head trauma and signs of possible sexual abuse. Skiba was airlifted to UNC Hospitals, where she later died.

Richardson told detectives he "became upset" when the child soiled the bed they were sleeping in and whipped her with a cord. He said he is bipolar and "little things set him off."

After being bailed out of jail Thursday night, prosecutors asked the judge to increase Reyes' bond from $50,000 to $250,000. They called her a flight risk and said they were worried about her traveling for training in the Army Reserves.

Reyes was training in New Mexico at the time of her daughter's death.

Judge Resson Faircloth disagreed with prosecutors but did say Reyes couldn't leave the state. Reyes's next hearing is set for Aug. 12th.