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Car wash fundraiser supports baby Romeo's family
A Valley community is supporting a family after the death of a baby boy, whose father is accused of murder.
MESA, Ariz. - Mesa Police say they have arrested a man in connection with his child's death on the night of July 28.
What we know:
In a statement released on July 29, investigators identified the suspect as 19-year-old Arnold Barney. He was booked into jail over allegations of first-degree murder and child abuse.
Arnold Barney
Dig deeper:
Court documents related to the case give us a clearer picture of what allegedly happened.
Per investigators, police responded to a home located near Longmore and Southern at around 8:35 p.m. on July 28, over a report of an infant who was not breathing.
"Upon arrival, police officers found a six-week-old male infant in serious distress," read a portion of the documents.
Police say the infant was taken to a hospital, where he died overnight. An examination of the baby revealed severe bruising, swelling to a part of the baby's brain, as well as a brain bleed.
"No other significant injuries were observed, and further investigation by investigators found no other circumstances that might have caused the death of the infant," investigators wrote.
The baby's mother, per police, said she left the home at around 7:30 p.m. to walk to the grocery store with family members.
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Father accused of killing his infant son
A 19-year-old man is accused of murder and child abuse in the death of his infant son in Mesa.
"The mother and her family members returned home at approximately [8:30 p.m.] and found the infant on the bed where he was last place, only the blanket that had been laid across him was not tightly swaddling him," read a portion of the court documents.
After the mother noticed the discoloration on the baby's face and a breathing pattern that investigators described as "agonal," the mother asked Barney what happened to the baby. Barney, however, gave no answers.
Investigators said in an interview that was done after Barney was read his Miranda rights, Barney said he was left alone with the infant while the baby's mother was out.
"[Barney] advised he had woken up from a nap on the couch when alerted to the infant's crying. [Barney] stated the child had been cradled in his arms without his knowledge, and had rolled off onto the floor face first," read a portion of the court documents. "[Barney] then admitted this was not true, and he had in fact struck the infant with two open-handed slaps to the face."
Barney, according to police, later changed his statement again, saying he had actually slapped the infant six times in the face.
"[Barney] stated that after injuring the infant, he swaddled the infant and propped a bottle up for him to feed on. [Barney] then returned to the couch in the living room until the infant's mother returned home," police wrote. "[Barney] expressed regret for his actions and understood that they were wrong. [Barney] stated that he wished to tell the infant's mother that he was sorry for killing the child."
What's next:
Barney, according to court documents, is held on a $1 million bond. Should he make bond, Barney would be subjected to electronic monitoring, curfew restrictions, and other conditions of release.
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Mesa man indicted for murder in baby's death
Arnold Barney, 19, is accused of first-degree murder and child abuse in the death of his 6-week-old son in Mesa. According to police, Barney slapped the infant in the face because the baby wouldn't stop crying. The baby was taken to a hospital where he died.
What you can do:
Click here if you'd like to donate to the baby's family.
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