Texas authorities confirm bruises were found on unresponsive Russian toddler when he was brought to hospital as Kremlin alleges murder at hands of adoptive mother

• Ector County Medical Examiner's office today revealed Maxim Shatto, 3, had several bruises on his body when he arrived at hospital last month
• Little Max died on Jan. 21 after being adopted by a family in Texas
• Russian authorities are alleging he was abused by his adoptive mother and given psychiatric drugs
• Texas authorities wouldn't comment on whether the bruises were caused by intentional beatings or were accidental
  
• Latest in ongoing battle between two counties over adoptions and death comes weeks after Russians banned all adoptions to Americans
  
• American authorities investigating claims but no arrests have been made

By Associated Press and Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 18:27 EST, 19 February 2013 | Updated: 22:56 EST, 19 February 2013

Texas authorities today confirmed that a three-year-old boy adopted from Russia was covered in bruises and unresponsive when he was brought into hospital last month, where he was later pronounced dead.

The news comes a day after Russia's Investigative Committee accused Little Max Shatto's adopted American mother of causing his tragic Jan. 21 death after she allegedly abused him and gave him psychiatric drugs.

An autopsy into Max's cause of death is pending but Ector County Medical Examiner's office today gave weight to the Kremlin's claims after it confirmed marks on the child's body that could have been caused by abuse.

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'Inhuman treatment': Russian authorities are also saying Maxim was given psychiatric medication and are demanding to play a part in the investigation

Accused: Laura Shatto, right, is accused of beating little Max, right, to death last month

Chief investigator Shirley Standefer said there were signs of bruising on Max's body, including in the lower abdominal area. However, she refused to comment on whether the bruises appeared to be intentional or accidental.

The State Department has meanwhile cautioned people not to jump to conclusions about the boy's cause of death and to instead wait until the investigation and autopsy have delivered their results.

Max's tragic death has received international attention in the wake of a recent Russian ban on all American adoptions.

Russia's Investigative Committee said that it had opened an investigation into the little boy's death.

'Three-year-old Maxim was beaten, according to the investigators, by his adoptive mother, who fed him psychoactive drugs over a long period of time, saying that he had some psychiatric illness,' said Pavel Astakhov, the Russian Children's Rights Commissioner alleges, according to The Telegraph.

Tragedy: Max Shatto, 3, died in January after being adopted by a family in Texas. An Ector County grand jury has declined to indict the parents, Alan and Laura Shatto, who also adopted his half brother, Kristopher

Russian born: Maxim was born the town of Pskov, near Russia's western border with Estonia. The boy lived with a family in Gardendale, Texas with his family before his death

He said the toddler had numerous bruises on his body and damage to organs.

'Our consuls must be allowed to see the materials of the case and take part in the formulation of the prosecution,' he added.

Texas Child Protective Services spokesman Patrick Crimmins confirmed the agency had received a report on Jan. 21 of the death of a three-year-old named Max Shatto, and that the Ector County Sheriff's Office in West Texas was investigating.

Crimmins said CPS had received allegations of physical abuse and neglect, but had not determined whether those allegations were true.

Parents: The boy's adoptive parents denied knowing about the allegations being made by Russian authorities. No arrests have been made

Sad: The little boy, pictured right, was pronounced dead in hospital on Jan. 21

Sgt. Gary Duesler, spokesman for the Ector County Sheriff's Office, said no arrests have been made and authorities are waiting for autopsy results.

An obituary for Max Shatto published Jan. 26 by the Midland Reporter-Telegram says he was born on Jan. 9, 2010, in the town of Pskov, near Russia's western border with Estonia.

The boy lived with a family in Gardendale, about 350 miles west of Dallas, before his death on Jan. 21, according to the obituary.

When reached by telephone, Mr Shatto told the Telegraph: 'We're not aware of what any Russian envoy has said. We're not making any comment.'

On the funeral home's website, Max's parents wrote: 'Max, you were not with us long enough to leave fingerprints on the walls but you left fingerprints upon our hearts.

Accusations: Pavel Astakho has alleged that Maxim was beaten to death by his American mother. American authorities have not confirmed the allegations are still investigating

'When we get to Heaven, we know we will hear your sweet voice singing with the angels. We love you and will always miss you.'

The death comes weeks after Russia announced it was banning all American adoptions in retaliation for a new U.S. law targeting alleged Russian human-rights violators.

The ban also reflects lingering resentment over the 60,000 Russian children adopted by Americans in the past two decades, of which at least 19 have died.

Russian Foreign Ministry official Konstantin Dolgov said in a statement that the boy's death was 'yet another case of inhuman treatment of a Russian child adopted by American parents.'

Duesler said he could not immediately confirm or deny Russian allegations of abuse.

Dolgov also accused the U.S. Department of State of not helping Russian consular officials investigate the death.

Look of love: Alan Shatto embraces his son, Maxim, in this photo. Max's parents wrote in his obituary, 'When we get to Heaven, we know we will hear your sweet voice singing with the angels. We love you and will always miss you'

Timing: Max's death comes weeks after Russian authorities announced it was banning all adoptions by Americans

A State Department official said the government is aware of the case and 'takes very seriously the welfare of children, particularly children who have been adopted from other countries.'

'We will continue to assist the Russian Embassy and consulate officials in making contact with the appropriate authorities in Texas,' said the State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak on the record about the matter.

Crimmins said the Russian consulate had contacted Child Protective Services.

STATE DEPARTMENT LABELS DEATH A 'TRAGEDY' BUT SAYS DON'T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS: