Authorities
arrested and booked a 24-year-old Texas man on capital murder charges after he reportedly told authorities that he used “wrestling-style moves” on a 1-year-old child left in his care.
The child, who had suffered a skull fracture and internal injuries, died in a Texas hospital as a result of the man’s “care.”
Marvin Rex Lake allegedly gripped a 1-year-old infant like a football, wrestled with the baby and dropped him on th… https://t.co/fesVSOLuT8
— KTSM 9 News (@KTSM 9 News)1618972383.0
What are the details?
KFOX-TV
reported that the suspect, Marvin Rex Lake, was babysitting the child, Ahren Joshua DeHart, and two other children at an El Paso home when the incident took place. The two other children also reportedly had injuries that were not life-threatening, according to KWTX-TV.
According to a police affidavit, the child appeared to be in “good health and alert” around 5 p.m. local time on April 13, according to a video call between Lake and the child’s parents. Less than five hours later, Lake phoned the parents and said that the child “rag-dolled” and vomited a red substance.
When the child’s parents — who are said to be a labor and delivery department worker at a local hospital and a member of the U.S. military — returned to the home, they phoned paramedics, who took the child to a hospital with various injuries that authorities say were “non-accidental.”
The baby, according to the report, suffered brain damage along with the skull fracture, lung hemorrhaging, and abdominal injuries. The child died on Friday, several days after the incident, having been on life support.
A
GoFundMe page to benefit the family has received more than $11,000 in donations at the time of this reporting.
What has the suspect said?
Lake reportedly told investigators that he and the child were sitting on his futon and watching television when he attempted “several wrestling-style moves” on the baby. During what he said was roughhousing, the child fell against the frame of the futon. Lake also admitted that he was upset at the child for reportedly ripping a pillow, and responded by holding the boy tightly. He said he did not realize his own strength at the time.
He reportedly told authorities, “I did not hurt his head. I only caused the internal injuries.”
According to reports, Lake asked about receiving financial compensation for damage to his futon frame.
Lake remains in custody at the El Paso County Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond.