Father Tripped And Landed On His 2-Month-Old: Charged With Murder

Hatboro, PA – Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the “suspicious death” of a 2-month-old infant in Montgomery County.

Edward Doyle, 28, was arrested and held on $1 million bail for child endangerment after baby Makayla was found unresponsive Sunday morning around 9:30 am.

Doyle admits to spending the evening prior drinking heavily while celebrating a friend’s birthday and afterwards playing cards with friends, reports CBS News. He and his wife engaged in a financial related argument at another apartment. Then Doyle returned home alone to the Wellington Apartments located on the 2500 block of Horsham Road.

Doyle shares the apartment with his wife, baby Makayla, and a 15-month old toddler. No specific details were made available as to who had been watching the children before Doyle arrived home.

According to Doyle, Makayla began crying, and he went to check on her. Still inebriated, Doyle picked her up, stumbled over a baby swing, and landed on top of his daughter. Afterwards he placed her in the same swing and went to bed. Doyle told authorities his daughter appeared fine, and, although lethargic, accepted a binky around 7:15 am when he checked on her.

Later Doyle noticed the child was limp and pale and called 911. When police arrived at the home they observed the child was a little cut up across the bridge of her nose, swollen, and bruised. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Doyle was taken into custody over the death of his daughter.

Since Makayla’s autopsy, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman has escalated the charge of endangerment of a child and added third degree murder. Ferman accuses Doyle of “maliciously and recklessly” killing his daughter in a “drunken rage,” according to ABC News. Ferman also believes Doyle fabricated the details of Makayla’s death, trying to cover up the events with lies.

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