A Jamaican-born transgender child caregiver previously accused of torturing a four-year-old boy to death, has now been charged with murder.

According to the New York Post, news of 27-year-old Kryzie King's upgraded charge of murder comes following a ruling by the New York City Medical Examiner's Office last April, that the death of Myls Dobson - who was found with several burn marks and bruises - was a murder.

"The grand jury has charged this defendant with murder in the second degree," said Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, Nicole Blumberg, before Justice Robert Stolz.

King's homicide indictment was reportedly on hold for months, pending the deceased's autopsy report.

King is also charged with seven counts of felony assault and one count of attempted assault in relation to the death. She now faces 25 years to life in prison.

Information received is that King previously admitted to police that she beat the boy for misbehaving, locking him outside on an 11th-floor patio in his underwear in freezing temperatures for an hour.

According to court papers, King, born Christopher King, told lawmen that she had a sex change at age 18.

The accused is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail on Riker's Island in an infirmary for an undisclosed illness.