Missouri – A Missouri coupIe, 39-year-old J. RiIey and 34-year-old R. Haggens, were taken into custody earlier this month and each charged with first-degree endangering the weIfare of a chiId, resuIting in the death of their 5-month-old chiId, according to jail records and Missouri authorities. Both defendants are being held in the county jail on bonds of $100,000 and $75,000, respectively.

The tragic case dates back to Dec. 2022, when the mother brought the baby to a hospital in Missouri, after finding him unresponsive and not breathing. Medical staff managed to resuscitate him and placed him on life support, but he never regained consciousness and died several days later.

An examination at the hospital revealed multiple bilateral brain bIeeds, retinal hemorrhages in both eyes, anoxic brain injury, and four rib fractures. A neuropathologist, commissioned by the Medical Examiner, determined that these injuries were consistent with severe head trauma typical of shaken baby syndrome, either with or without impact. The medical examiner classified the cause of death as closed head injury and officially ruled it a homicide.

Investigators say that both parents provided conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the child’s collapse. The mother reportedly told Missouri authorities she had been traveling from California with an acquaintance and the baby. She claimed the baby had been warm, given a drink and Children’s Tylenol, and later became limp and unresponsive in a hotel parking lot after being dropped off by her friend. However, police were unable to verify the identity of her friend and the mother was not found on video nor registered at the hotel she mentioned .

The victim’s dad (SEE PHOTO) initially told detectives he was alone in Missouri when he got word about the hospital emergency. He later declined to speak further with law enforcement. Authorities say both their statements didn’t align with evidence collected.

Over the course of a multistate investigation, police traced GPS data from the defendant’s semi-truck, showing that the couple and child traveled through nine states. During that time, they made stops at various facilities and factories.

Digital evidence later revealed that the parent had searched “how do I know if my child’s head injury is serious” on December 4 while in Missouri. After the victim’s mom and the baby reached the hospital, the father reportedly used his phone to search terms including “shaken baby syndrome,” “lawyers,” and which countries did not “expedite” extradition.

Police also recovered deleted text messages suggestive of cause, including one where the father allegedly texted his spouse that the baby had fell out of the bed, and another mentioning a light lamp hotel, matching neither video surveillance nor hotel records.

Missouri authorities and the Missouri Children’s Division compiled the collected evidence. Medical findings—such as bilateral brain bleeds, retinal hemorrhages, acute subarachnoid spinal-cord hemorrhage, new and healed rib fractures, bruising behind the head, and a knee bruise—all pointed to repeated physical trauma to the infant. The medical examiner confirmed that such injuries are consistent with both old and new injuries, supporting the determination of homicide.

Throughout the investigation, both parents were reportedly uncooperative with authorities. Nevertheless, detectives used a combination of digital forensics, vehicle GPS tracking, surveillance video, medical records, and the autopsy report to piece together a timeline of the child’s final days. Authorities believe the child died sometime while they were eating at a tr uck stop in Missouri.

First-degree endangering the welfare of a child in Missouri is a felony punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison or life imprisonment. With the discovery of conflicting witness accounts, medical testimony indicating abuse, and digital footprints suggesting both injury and possible attempts to avoid prosecution, prosecutors are preparing to move forward with a case focused entirely on the couple’s actions during those final days.