Shawn Samuels, Orrington, Maine father arrested in the homicide death of his 12-week-old daughter, Lyla Samuels on what was suppose to be the man’s first playful date alone with the infant girl. Autopsy results reveal multiple injuries.
A Maine father has been accused of killing his own 12-week-old baby daughter after being left alone with the girl for the first time in what was suppose to be a ‘playful date’.
Shawn Samuels, 24, of Orrington was charged with the girl’s murder after the ‘unresponsive,’ girl who was found blue on Friday was rushed to hospital only to die from her injuries two days later.
Penobscot Regional Communication Center received a 911 call at around 11.40am on Friday on reports of an unresponsive three-month-old.
First play date with Maine dad leads to 12-week-old baby girl suffering catastrophic injuries
Lyla Samuels, was reported to have passed away on Sunday from ‘multiple injuries’ with her death ruled the result of a homicide, according to a state police press release.
An autopsy report reviewed by Bangor Daily News (BDN) stated that Lyla had four broken ribs, retinal hemorrhages and brain swelling when she died. Chief Medical Examiner Alice Briones found that the brain bleeding was an acceleration-deceleration injury and would not have occurred in a healthy baby.
Her mother, Leah Collins, told the outlet that Lyla was a ‘gift from God, and had returned to Heaven much too soon.’
Posted family member, Elizabeth Collins on Facebook: ‘The sweetest, smiliest, most beauuuutiful little light. She’s already so missed. We remember her and all the love, joy and giggles she brought to us. Rest in peace, pretty girl. Auntie loves you to the moon.’
‘Lyla, we miss and love you so much. You will always be remembered as Leah’s perfect little nugget,’ another relative, Nick Collins, wrote.
Prior history of domestic violence
A GoFundMe for Lyla’s family has raised over $10,730 as of Sunday evening.
‘Our hearts break alongside baby Lyla’s Mom Leah, and the Collins family who are currently walking through a tremendously dark and difficult time,’ the fundraiser stated.
Samuels was originally charged with domestic violence elevated aggravated assault along with two counts of violation of bail following his arrest on Friday, only for charges to be upgraded to murder over the weekend after the girl mortally succumbing to her wounds.
Samuels who has since plead not guilty plea, remains held on $250,000 bail.
The father is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 13.
Of note the father has a prior history of prior domestic violence.
