According to the police officials, the 20-year-old mother, Janaya, and the 21-year-old father, Gerard, were taken into custody and later charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and depriving a dependent of necessary support after they reportedly killed their 1-month-old baby Royal. The father was also charged with murder and aggravated battery.
Police officials also said father reportedly shook his newborn baby before and then his wife and him decided not to seek medical attention for 6 days as the baby slowly died in the home. Last month, the parents reportedly brought the 1-month-old baby to the hospital. The child was pronounced dead 3 days after she was admitted to the hospital.
Authorities were contacted when doctors noticed suspicious head trauma to the child, officials said. During an interview with investigators, both parents denied ever shaking their baby. In another interview, the baby’s father reportedly said that their daughter fell out of a baby carrier and struck her head on concrete, resulting in a big bump. The baby’s dad decided not to inform the child’s mother about the fall and to wait an additional 11 days until the baby’s planned doctor’s appointment. The newborn cried more and ate less after the fall.
One week later, the baby’s father reportedly admitted to investigators that he became so frustrated with his baby’s crying that he grabbed the child and shook her violently while asking the baby why she was crying. The baby’s mother told investigators that she and her husband decided to not call 911 or seek medical attention because first responders would ask too many questions and their baby was dead anyways. The baby’s father is being held without bond while the mother’s bond was set at $100,000, court records say.