Marysville PD: Parents arrested in death of their 4-month-old girl

A Marysville mother and father were arrested for investigation of homicide by abuse Saturday night, after their 4-month-old baby stopped breathing and died. 

Police and firefighters were called to Ninth St and Columbia Ave at 11:12 p.m. to reports of the infant not breathing. They immediately attempted lifesaving treatment on the baby, but she was declared dead at the scene.

The baby's 26-year-old father told police he "was a horrible father," that the child's death was his fault and that he should go to prison, according to court documents.

According to a police superform, he explained he put the baby face-down in her bed and held her there "to get her to stop crying." He said that she cried and struggled a lot as he forced her into the bed for roughly two minutes, until he thought she went to sleep, according to the police documents.

The father told police the baby had gas pains and would scream a lot, and he would push on her back to help relieve her, according to police docs. He also said he was worried about having Child Protective Services called on them, as it has happened several times before.

He and the baby's 25-year-old mother then lay in bed and watched TV for around an hour, while their baby was dead right next to them.

When they checked on their child, she was cold to the touch, and the father told police her face was black. The mother told police later she tried CPR on the baby, doing chest compressions with two fingers. She also explained she was aware of the father's method of pushing on their baby's back, but was "uneasy" about it—she told investigators she and the father had fights over it.

Both parents were arrested and booked into Snohomish County Jail for second-degree murder and homicide by abuse.

On Monday, Snohomish County prosecutor's office did not ask for probable cause for the charges the mother faced, and Snohomish County District Court Commissioner Jennifer Millett ruled to release her from jail.

Officials from the prosecutor's office say her case is pending further investigation.

Millett ruled there was probable cause to keep the father in jail, and placed a $25,000 bond on him.

"I cannot ignore the fact that there are two other nonverbal children who were exposed to this level of violence, and the indifference that was displayed by the defendant after this act took place, before seeking any sort of care for the child. Based on that information I do believe there is a risk a violent crime will occur and, he will seek to interfere with the administration of justice," said Millett.

According to police, there were two other children at the home who were taken into protective custody at the Department of Children, Youth & Families.

Millett also ruled the father cannot speak with the mother of the child regarding the case.

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The infant's cause of death has not yet been confirmed by the medical examiner.

FOX 13 News reached out to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families for more information on if they have had involvement with this family.

MarysvilleCrime and Public Safety