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A St. Louis man convicted of brutally beating to death his 2-year-old son will spend the rest of his life behind bars. 

The reasons may be unknown--an alcohol fueled rage or bipolar disorder--but a jury has made sure 32 Aaron Lucy of south city  will never hurt another child. 

He was found guilty of first-degree murder and four felony counts of child abuse, evidence tampering and armed criminal action in the death of his son, Kyle Lucy. He has no chance for parole.

The boy's mother,30-year-old Amanda Newman, told the St Louis Post Dispatch she was satisfied with the life sentence because she believes it will keep Lucy away from their daughter, Abby, who is now 7. 

Prosecutors said Lucy beat Kyle to death the day after Christmas 2010 while the family was at a holiday play. 

Authorities said Lacy left bruises and scrapes on almost every part of the toddler's body and caused two skull fractures and a fatal brain injury. Blood was found throughout the apartment, including on the back of a picture frame, a broken drawer an overturned television that had been thrown across the floor. 

Lucy's mother argued he should be in a mental hospital rather than prison.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Randolph County coroner has ruled another inmate death as a homicide at the Menard maximum-security prison in Chester in far southern Illinois.

Coroner Randy Dudenbostel says 35-year-old William Crowder died March 26 from "manual strangulation." The coroner classified the death as a homicide.

State's Attorney Jeremy Walker intends to file first-degree murder charges against a Menard inmate when he receives investigative reports.

He would not name the inmate but says the man is not due for release until 2013.

Crowder was found dead in his cell in the prison's segregation unit at 10:36 p.m. Crowder's was the third homicide since Jan. 31.

Walker previously filed murder charges against former Menard inmates for the deaths of 25-year-old Jason Hall and 64-year-old Yusuf Abuzir.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Forecasters are predicting minor to moderate flooding in central and eastern Missouri as heavy rains cause the Missouri River to rise up to 15 feet in coming days.

On Friday, the river is expected to crest about 3 feet above flood stage in Glasgow and 5 feet above flood stage in Boonville. By Saturday afternoon, forecasters say the river will surpass flood stage by about 3.5 feet in Jefferson City and 8 feet in Chamois.

On Sunday morning, the river is expected to exceed the flood stage by about 8 feet in Hermann and about 5 feet in Washington.

Two Missouri River tributaries, the Grand and Chariton rivers, also are expected to rise above flood stage. Major flooding is forecast Thursday for Prairie Hill and Chillicothe.