Authorities in Blair County have arrested an Altoona man following a nearly three-year investigation into the death of his 8-week-old son. Police say 34-year-old Robert Jenkins Jr. is accused of “feeding” alcohol and drugs to the infant just hours before the child went into cardiac arrest on September 5, 2022.
According to the affidavit, emergency crews were called that night to a residence on the 1400 block of 3rd Avenue in Altoona, where the baby was found unresponsive. Jenkins, who had been home alone with the child, told police he woke up to find the infant in distress.
Initially, investigators ruled the death as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, further investigation uncovered evidence of drug use inside the home, including what police described as “residue” on the couch where the baby had been sleeping.
An autopsy later determined the infant had both alcohol and methamphetamine in his system. Medical officials described the level of intoxication as fatal, noting a Blood Alcohol Content of .149, Johnstown NBC affiliate WJAC reported.
When questioned, Jenkins denied using methamphetamine and insisted he never tampered with the baby’s bottle. Police say he blamed the child’s mother, accusing her of “breaking into the residence” and giving the child alcohol. Investigators later determined the mother had a no-contact order in place at the time and confirmed through interviews that she was not near the home on the night of the incident.
Medical experts told police the infant would have had to consume the alcohol shortly before being found unresponsive in order to reach the reported levels of intoxication. Authorities also allege that Jenkins failed to perform CPR on the child and waited several minutes before calling 911, per the Altoona Mirror.
Online court records show Jenkins is facing multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter and several counts of aggravated assault. He is currently being held at the Blair County Prison on $100,000 bail.
The tragic case, which began as a sudden and unexplained infant death, has now taken a darker turn with the findings of deliberate intoxication.
Investigators said the lengthy timeline reflected the complexity of determining the cause of death and piecing together evidence that eventually pointed to criminal responsibility. Jenkins is expected to appear in court later this year. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing, though no other suspects are being sought at this time.