Sean Kothe, 24, of Orcutt is being held on $1 million bail in the Santa Barbara County jail, accused of murdering a 19-month-old girl.
Kothe was arraigned in Santa Barbara County Superior Court on Wednesday.
Investigators say the toddler and her mother showed up at Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria on Sunday afternoon. Hospital staff suspected child abuse because of head trauma to the girl did not match the story given by the mother.
The girl later died after being transferred to a hospital in Madera where she was pronounced dead and taken off life support.
The mother, 21-year-old Jackeline Molina-Rodriguez of Oceano was arrested for child endangerment and booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail. She was released from custody on Tuesday.