North Port man has aggravated battery charge upgraded to second-degree murder following an investigation into the incident

A man who was arrested on aggravated battery charges for an incident with his father in North Port had his charges upgraded after an investigation revealed the man died as a result of injuries he sustained.

According to the North Port Police Department, back in February, deputies arrested Robert Merritt, 44, on charges of Aggravated Battery on a victim above 65 years old, his father.

The victim, Robert Cecil Merritt, 74, later died. Following an investigation and autopsy results, it was determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office that the father’s cause of death was a homicide.

Those charges have now been upgraded by the State Attorney’s Office. Merritt is now facing a charge of second-degree murder. He was arrested Thursday in North Port.