Louisiana – A Louisiana coupIe were arrested and charged in connection with the death of their two-month-oId chiId. Both defendants, 18-year-old TayIor and 20-year-old KayIee, face first-degree murder and crueIty to juveniIes charges. The 18-year-old dad was booked into the parish jail and police also charged the pair with second-degree battery.
The investigation began last week when emergency responders were called to a residence after the newborn was found unresponsive and rushed to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The local police department opened a homicide investigation and obtained a search warrant and arrest warrants after forensic and medical evidence raised immediate concerns about nonaccidental trauma. Police say the parents had excIusive custody of the child since birth.
The medical examiner performed an autopsy, which revealed that the infant had suffered immeasurable crueIty in her short life due to severe neglect and physical abuse.
Medical examiners identified numerous and severe injuries that investigators say were not consistent with an accidental cause. Officials report the infant suffered broken ribs, severe internaI bleeding, extreme dehydration and malnourishment, and what police described as a severed Iower spine.
Those findings prompted investigators to treat the death as the result of prolonged and severe abuse rather than a sudden medical emergency. The chief of police called the abuse unimaginable and said investigators were working to uncover every detail.
After the initial report, investigators executed search and seizure steps and reviewed hospital records, the autopsy report and physical evidence collected at the scene. Detectives canvassed the neighborhood, collected any available surveillance video and interviewed family members, witnesses and medical staff as part of the Crimes Against Persons inquiry.
The information gathered and the autopsy findings were used to obtain arrest warrants for both parents. The mother (SEE PHOTO) was taken into custody first, the father later turned himself in to Louisiana authorities and was booked.
The arrests came after prosecutors and investigators reviewed the medical examiner’s conclusions and supporting evidence and presented that material to county authorities, who authorized the charges.