A Seattle father accused of causing severe injuries to his 4-month-old daughter has pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge following the infant’s death earlier this month.
Dontaevian Marques Murray, 22, is accused of seriously injuring the baby while she was in his care at a Seattle home. The child was taken to Seattle Children’s Hospital on Sept. 4 after she was found unresponsive and having difficulty breathing. She remained hospitalized for eight days before dying on Sept. 12.
Murray was charged in connection with the death on Sept. 18. He remains in custody on $2 million bail.
Emergency call led to hospital treatment
Seattle firefighters were called to the home shortly before 3 a.m. on Sept. 4 after the infant was found in serious condition.
According to court documents, Murray told investigators that he checked on his daughter and noticed that she appeared pale, her lips had turned blue and her breathing was abnormal. He also described unusual movement in her eyes, saying one eye was open while the other was mostly closed.
Murray told detectives that he picked up the baby and shook or bounced her while holding her against his body. He then went upstairs to get his mother, who began CPR while emergency help was being requested.
The infant was transported to Seattle Children’s Hospital, where doctors found extensive injuries involving her brain and eyes. Medical records described severe swelling in the brain, bleeding around the brain and extensive hemorrhaging in multiple layers of both eyes.
Doctors questioned an accidental explanation
The medical findings became a central part of the investigation.
Prosecutors say doctors determined that the severity and pattern of the injuries could not be explained by a natural medical condition or an ordinary accident. The injuries were described as being comparable in severity to those that could occur after a fall from several stories or a vehicle crash involving ejection.
The infant remained under medical care for more than a week before she died on Sept. 12.
Investigators later focused on what happened inside the home before the emergency call and on the explanation Murray gave for the child’s injuries.
Murray gave investigators a different account of what happened
During questioning, Murray also told investigators that he had stumbled while carrying the baby on the stairs.
According to the court documents, he said he was holding the infant with both hands when he fell onto his arms and slid slightly before getting back up. He reportedly maintained that the baby did not fall from his arms and that he landed while still holding her.
The account is part of the evidence prosecutors are presenting as the case moves forward. Murray has denied criminal responsibility by pleading not guilty.
Case remains in the court process
Murray’s case is now moving through the criminal court process, with prosecutors alleging that his actions caused the injuries that ultimately led to the infant’s death.
The $2 million bail remains in place, and prosecutors have argued for strict restrictions because of the seriousness of the allegations. Recent reporting also indicates that authorities located Murray at a relative’s residence after searching for him for several days.
The allegations against Murray have not been proven at trial. His not-guilty plea means the case will proceed through the court system, where prosecutors will have to prove their claims beyond a reasonable doubt.
For now, investigators and prosecutors are continuing to rely on the medical findings, emergency response timeline and accounts given during the investigation as the case moves forward.
