Kenai Whyte was a joyful toddler who loved to play hide-and-seek with his older sister, and whose family proudly welcomed a new baby girl in November. Kenai’s mother doted on him; his older family members delighted in his easy smile and sweet disposition.

“He’s the type of kid, you can’t punk him, you can’t play around unless it’s real, real playful,’’ said Kenai’s second cousin, Kevon Young, who grew up with the child’s mother. “He’s a gentle, gentle person.’’

But on Sunday night, Kenai’s battered body was found in his father’s home on Alpine Street in Roxbury, and the child was rushed to Boston Medical Center. He died from his injuries on Tuesday, according to Boston police, who have not publicly identified the boy or said what killed him.

No one has been charged in the death of the child, who was identified by family. Young, who went with his family to identify Kenai’s body, said the toddler was allegedly beaten, and had trauma to his head and feet. Police officials declined to comment on that version of events, and said no cause of death had yet been released.

Young said the boy’s mother, Ashley Young, was bereft. She shared custody of the boy with his father, according to court documents, and Kenai spent weekends with his father, Dave Whyte.

“She was basically telling me she couldn’t cry anymore, she cried so much,’’ Kevon Young said of Kenai’s mother. “She’s crying but no tears are coming out.’’

Officials have not commented on the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

The Department of Children and Families had an open case with the boy before he died, according to court documents and DCF officials. Just days before his death, a care provider told state child welfare officials that he was well, DCF officials said.

Kevon Young said the department has taken custody of Ashley Young’s two other children — something he said was baffling, given that Kenai was not in her care when he died. Ashley Young, he said, adored Kenai, her only son.

The agency also took custody of another child living at the Alpine Street address, though officials have not disclosed that child’s age or relationship to the boy. Court documents state that an infant born to Dave Whyte and his current wife lived in the home. Officials from DCF declined to confirm whether Ashley Young’s other two children had been removed from her care.

On Wednesday night, four people showed up for a scheduled vigil in front of the home. While the event did not go off as planned, the group said a prayer for Kenai and left a candle on the front steps.

One woman who identified herself as Kenai’s former day care teacher recalled the boy as “an innocent kid.’’

“It’s unfortunate,’’ said the woman, who declined to give her name. “I wish I could have helped before this happened. Because me being the mother of a 3-year-old, I could never picture a day without my son.’’

Evan Allen can be reached at evan.allen@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @evanmallen. Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.