Dad pleads guilty in smothering death of infant daughter (Byron, Minnesota)

We reported on this dad back in June. Now dad EDWIN HENRY WHITE has pleaded guilty to smothering his infant daughter. It seems Dad just had no idea how to be a caregiver. Putting your baby face-down on a pillow? Not a good idea.

http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=411349

Byron man pleads guilty in death of infant daughter
8/10/2009 11:25:02 PM

By Laura Gossman Horihan
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

A Byron man accused of suffocating his 2 1/2-month-old daughter pleaded guilty to second-degree murder without intent Monday in Olmsted District Court.

Under his plea agreement, Edwin Henry White, 25, admitted to smothering his daughter, Carlee Jade White, on May 15.

The penalty for second degree unintentional murder while committing a felony is 40 years in prison, but under the plea agreement White could serve 18 years in prison with the possibility of supervised released in 12 years.

White told Judge Debra Jacobson that he and his 23-year-old wife were living with his mother in Byron.

He said his wife suffered from post-partum depression, so he was the one mostly caring for the child.

"I did the normal feedings, normal naps," White said. Carlee was the couple's first child.

On May 14, his wife had gone to bed by 10 p.m., and his mother agreed to take care of the baby for a couple hours while White relaxed.

"I was exhausted, tired, and frustrated for many reasons," White said.

He said that he wanted to be a good husband and father, but felt like he wasn't being a good provider.

"I was also frustrated, because I didn't understand my wife's condition and illness," White said. "I couldn't understand why she couldn't help take care of the baby."

After his mother left, he fed Carlee, and she slept for about a half hour, he said. When she awoke, she was fussy again.

"I couldn't figure it out," he said. "I held her, I bounced her on my knee. When nothing worked I laid her face down on the pillow because it had helped before."

Tears flowed down White's face as he described what he had done to quiet his daughter.

He placed her face down on the pillow next to him and pressed her face into the pillow "until her breathing was labored."

"I thought she had finally relaxed, so I watched TV for 10 to 15 minutes," White said. "I looked over at her and realized she wasn't moving."

He attempted CPR, and when it didn't help he wrapped her in a blanket and set her in her crib.

He called his mother, who suggested he call authorities. He called authorities at about 2:40 a.m., which was 30 to 40 minutes after she had stopped breathing.

Byron first responders tried to resuscitate the child but were unsuccessful.

She was taken to Saint Marys Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.