An Oregon mother is facing charges of murder, murder by abuse and second-degree assault in the 2012 death of her 4-year-old son.

Jessica Dutro, 25, reportedly subjected her son, Zachary Dutro-Boggess, to a deadly beating because she thought he was gay. Prosecutors say the boy died on Aug. 16, 2012 from blunt-force trauma to his abdomen and a delay in medical treatment, reports the Associated Press.

Dutro, who is on trial in Portland's Washington County Circuit Court, allegedly told her boyfriend at the time, Brian Canady, that she assumed her son was gay in a Facebook message. Using a slur, she wrote that Zachary was going to be a gay adult, and that "he walks and talks like it. Ugh." She also suggested that Canady, 24, "work on" her son's sexuality, reports the Huffington Post.

Earlier this month, Canady pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault, in connection with Zachary's death. Back in 2012, Canady admitted to kicking Zachary in the abdomen while wearing shoes, which officials believe led to the boy's death.

However, Hollywood Life reports that Canady will testify against his ex-girlfriend as a character witness in the ongoing murder trial.

During the time of Zachary's death, the mother of four had at least two other children who showed signs of physical abuse, but prosecutors claim that Zachary received the most abuse.

The autopsy report found that Zachary's colon was torn and bleeding for up to two days before he collapsed in the homeless shelter where he was living with his family. He was then placed on life support for two days before doctors removed his ventilator.