Dad with extensive criminal history (including domestic violence) accused of killing 7-week-old daughter (North Fort Myers, Florida)

Dad STEVEN CANTRELL is a walking disaster. Yet the State of Florida just let him slide along, never really holding him responsible for his criminal actions. So you leave a father with an extensive history of violence alone with a newborn child--what do you think is going to happen? Well, that's what happened....

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/17250730/2012/03/25/father-accused-of-killing-7-week-old-daughter


Father accused of killing 7-week-old daughter

Posted: Mar 25, 2012 5:45 PM CDT Updated: Mar 26, 2012 9:35 AM CDT

NORTH FORT MYERS, FL -
A North Fort Myers man is charged with killing his seven-week old daughter, according to deputies.

On March 23rd, around 4:05 p.m., deputies responded to 18601 Palm Creek Drive in North Fort Myers after getting a 9-1-1 call about an unconscious infant.

When they got to the scene, deputies learned the child had been taken to the hospital.

Because of the nature of the injuries, detectives from the Major Crimes Unit were notified and sent to the hospital.

Deputies say medical evidence and information from emergency room workers showed the child suffered severe head trauma, including multiple skull fractures. Officials with the ER said the child, Jada Cantrell, died as a result of her massive traumatic head injuries.

Jada lived at home with her mother, father and grandfather.

Detectives say the baby was at home alone with her father, 21-year-old Steven Cantrell, at the time her injuries occurred.

When questioned, Cantrell allegedly gave detectives conflicting explanations about what happened to the infant.

Deputies say none of the explanations Cantrell gave were plausible.

Based on the documentation of the scene, recovered evidence, witness statements and the victim's documented fatal injuries, detectives arrested and charged Steven Cantrell with one count of First Degree Felony Murder.

Cantrell has had frequent encounters with law enforcement. He was arrested in February on a probation violation; the month prior Cape Coral police arrested him for giving a false ID to an officer. He pleaded 'no contest' and appears to have been sentenced to 'time served,' but it's not clear from State Attorney's Office website records.

In November 2010, he was charged with robbery in Lee County. That case was dropped at the request of the victim.

In August 2010, he was arrested for aggravated assault and property damage. The State Attorney's Office chose not to file formal charges.

In September 2009, Cantrell was arrested by deputies for robbery, burglary, grand theft auto, theft, trespassing and probation violation. He pleaded 'no contest' to the robbery and trespassing. There was no information on the other charges.

In July 2009, he was arrested by deputies for resisting an officer with violence, giving a false ID to a deputy, resisting an officer without violence and domestic violence battery. Cantrell pleaded 'no contest' to resisting without violence and domestic battery. There was no information on the other counts.