Maryland – A Maryland man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of his lnfant, authorities said. The man, 28-year-old J. Savoiy, was taken into custody after investigators concluded the 4-month-oId’s death was the result of serious physical abuse.
According to the authorities, officers and EMS responded earlier this week to the family’s home in Maryland after a report that the baby was not breathing. When medics arrived, they transported the baby, identified as 4-month-old Serrenity, to a nearby hospital, but she was pronounced dead upon arrival. A preliminary medical examination revealed the child had suffered multiple fractures and other critical injuries — damage inconsistent with normal infant accidents.
Court documents detail the extent of the baby’s injuries. They include multiple bone fractures, a skuII fracture, swelling of the soft spot on the skuII, hemorrhaging in the eyes, bleeding in sensitive areas, and other signs often associated with severe trauma or physical abuse. The injuries were described as critical, and doctors concluded they could only have resulted from forceful impact.
Further investigation led detectives to arrest the father He was charged not only with first- and second-degree murder, but also with first-degree child abuse resulting in death, first-degree child abuse causing severe physical injury, first- and second-degree assault, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment. Law enforcement officials say he is being held without bond at the county detention center pending prosecution.
According to court filings, the baby’s mother had left the child in the father’s care along with their 3-year-old and 2-year-old children when she went to work. The mother was not at home at the time of the fatal injuries. Several hours after she left, he allegedly called the mother and told her he thought something was wrong with the baby, saying the baby appeared limp. On a video call, the mother saw that the child was unresponsive. She instructed him to call 911 and returned home, where first responders arrived.
During the drive to the hospital as the infant was being transported by ambulance, the defendant reportedly told the baby’s mother that doctors would probably find bruising on the child’s shoulders, then asked her not to let Maryland authorities take him to prison. In her interview with investigators, the mother said he had often complained that the baby cried too much and that it frustrated him easily. She explained that she had been hesitant to leave him alone with the children, particularly the infant, because she previously returned home to find bruising on the baby’s hip, which he claimed happened when the child fell off the bed. She also told authorities that the next day the baby vomited several times, though she later appeared to act normally, leaving the mother still concerned about what had caused the injury.
At this time investigators say the infant’s injuries were not accidental. The pattern and severity of the trauma led Maryland authorities to conclude the death resulted from deliberate physical abuse. Detective reports list the multiple fractures and internal injuries as evidence of violent handling.
Prosecutors say the case will be pursued under some of the most serious criminal charges available under Maryland law. They argue that the infant was helpless and entirely dependent on her caregiver, making the alleged abuse particularly heinous. The murder and child-abuse charges reflect the state’s view that the death was intentional or resulted from reckless disregard for the baby’s safety.
Man caIIed his chiIren's mom to expIain that he didn't know what was wrong with their 4-month-old baby before telling her, on the way to the hospitaI, that doctors were likely to find injuries on the baby's shouIders and asked her not to let officiaIs take him to jaiI after causing fataI injuries: DA
