TAVARES, FL — A 10-year-old boy in Florida is in critical condition after his mother and a man dropped him off at a hospital covered in bruises, authorities say.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Taveres police said the boy was “tortured” covered in bruises when his mother identified as Kimberley Mills and another man identified as Andre Walker left the boy at the hospital.

“He is covered head to toe in various size bruises that are in various stages of healing,” Tavares Police Detective Courtney Sullivan said as she began choking up.

Police said the mother was performing CPR on the boy when they arrived at the hospital and staff took over. She and Walker left the hospital when they were informed law enforcement was responding, local news station WESH reported.

In Florida, Mills holds a license as a registered nurse, WESH reported.

Police said the boy was air transported to a nearby children’s hospital.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Tavares police said the boy is “fighting for his life.”

“It is clear to our agency that this child underwent gruesome abuse. He is covered head to toe in various-sized bruises that are in various stages of healing,” Sullivan said, per local news station WFLA 9.

Mills reportedly returned to the hospital shortly after leaving with another child.

According to TPD, Mills refused to give police any information about how the child sustained the injuries, WESH reported.

Police searched Mills home on a search warrant and found evidence related to the investigation. Mills was arrested for aggravated child abuse. The child with her was turned over  to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), WESH reported.

Walker pleaded not guilty to child abuse charges on Tuesday, WFTV 9 reported.

BLKNewsNow.com will continue to follow this story.