The girl’s father told police he was violent with the baby shortly before she was found unresponsive.| July 29, 2023, 6:19 p.m.This story includes descriptions of abuse and the death of a child. Individuals who suspect child abuse or neglect should the Utah Division of Child and Family Services’ 24/7 intake hotline at 1-855-323-3237.
The baby’s 29-year-old father and 24-year-old mother initially told investigators that they found their daughter unresponsive about 40 minutes after they put her down for a nap on Wednesday, according to a probable cause statement. The couple called 911, but the baby was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
When she got to the room, the man had swaddled the infant and thrown the baby into a crib, an investigator wrote in a probable cause statement. The mother told authorities “she hated it” when the man was too rough with their daughter, but that she had not seen exactly what he had done — and the couple instead went downstairs to feed their other children.
Investigators found that the baby had such severe diaper rash on her body that “it was apparent” she had not been getting her diaper changed or receiving any treatment for the irritated area, according to a probable cause statement. The medical examiner also found “multiple bruises” on the baby from before the homicide, an investigator wrote.
This story includes descriptions of abuse and the death of a child. Individuals who suspect child abuse or neglect should the Utah Division of Child and Family Services’ 24/7 intake hotline at 1-855-323-3237.