An Indiana father has been arrested on a preliminary murder charge following the death of his 3-month-old daughter, who authorities say suffered severe injuries during the first time he was left alone with her.
Curtis Jenkins, 24, was taken into custody after Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to an apartment on Station Street in northeast Indianapolis on July 18. Officers and paramedics had been called to conduct a welfare check on the infant at around 12:40 p.m., according to court documents.
Jenkins allegedly told first responders that his daughter may have “got too hot in the car” because the vehicle did not have working air conditioning. He said he had been driving with the child and attempted to give her water after noticing that she appeared to be overheating.
The baby was taken in critical condition to Riley Hospital for Children. She remained alive for several days before dying on July 21.
Doctors reportedly told investigators that the infant’s condition was not consistent with overheating. Court documents say she suffered three separate brain bleeds, retinal hemorrhages, broken ribs and “too many hemorrhages to count” in her spine.
During an interview with investigators, Jenkins denied harming the child and said he “did not know what happened to her.” [Jenkins said] that if he found out who put their hands on his baby, he would murder them,” the documents read. “He stated that he would never put his hands on his (children) and that he would never hurt them.”
Police ended the interview after Jenkins requested a lawyer. Investigators later obtained security footage from the apartment complex covering the period between Jenkins bringing the child inside and calling emergency services. Authorities allege that the recording captured the baby crying as Jenkins repeatedly told her to “shut up.”
The footage also reportedly contained thuds, smacking sounds and a noise described as consistent with a car seat being dropped. Court documents said the recording captured approximately one minute of what sounded like “cries of pain.”
“You keep crying,” Jenkins allegedly said in the footage. “I don’t want to deal with you.” Jenkins was later allegedly heard calling the baby’s name “as if he were attempting to rouse her,” before saying, “Oh, s—.”
The child’s mother told investigators she had been reluctant to leave the infant with Jenkins because “there have been DCS investigations involving his other children.” She said it was the first time he had been alone with the baby. A video provided by the mother allegedly showed the child appearing healthy shortly before Jenkins picked her up.
Jenkins remains detained in the Marion County Jail. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make the final decision on formal charges, while the infant’s autopsy remains pending.