SANDSTONE  — The parents of a 3-year-old boy beaten to death in Pine County said they’ve donated the child’s organs so he can “be a hero in another child’s life.”

The family of Dante Sears said the toddler was taken off life support Saturday and a funeral service will be held Friday in Sandstone.

Authorities said Dante’s mother, Jessica Carr, went to work Monday and left the boy and a sibling in the care of her boyfriend. She told police she received a disturbing text at work and when she returned home she found her son’s badly beaten body.

According to a press release, the family said the child was taken off life support Saturday — two days after his third birthday. The funeral service Friday is at Sandstone Evangelical Free Church.