Dad arrested on 1st-degree murder charges in death of 9-week-old daughter (Phoenix, Arizona)

Dad is identified as GILBERT SALAZAR-BETANCOURT. 

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/20121012phoenix-father-arrested-infants-death.html

Father arrested in Phoenix infant's death

 by Haley Madden - Oct. 12, 2012 10:38 AM

The Arizona Republic-12 News Breaking News Team

A Phoenix man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder after his 9-week-old daughter died in July in what officials believe was shaken-baby syndrome, according to court documents released Friday.

On May 16, police were contacted by the Cardon Children's Medical Center after the infant girl, Alexus, was brought in. Authorities reported the child had sustained a growing hematoma to the head, skull fractures, bruises, rib fractures along with evidence of prior fractures, all symptoms of shaken baby syndrome, according to police in a Maricopa County Superior Court document.

The girl's father, Gilbert Salazar-Betancourt, told hospital staff that he did not know what happened to his daughter and could not account for her injuries, according to the documents.

After arriving at the family's Phoenix home, police received more information regarding what happened earlier that night.

Alexus' grandmother was watching the child after the mother, Jessica Garcia, left for work. Police were told the baby was acting normally and had no injuries.

Salazar-Betancourt took Alexus into a small bedroom to feed her daughter through a feeding tube. Alexus sustained brain injury in child birth requiring special attention.

Alexus' father told police he set his phone to alert him when she needed to be fed next. He said she did not wake up when his phone went off and after letting her sleep for about 15 more minutes, he tried to wake her and was unsuccessful. Police were told Alexus was, "limp and unresponsive," according to documents. 

Salazar-Betancourt told police he placed the infant on the floor and began performing life-saving measures.

After arriving at the hospital, Garcia and Salazar-Betancourt were confronted about the injuries. Garcia said Alexus was fine and uninjured when she left for her shift and the baby's father said the bruises must have been from CPR, but he could not explain where the other injuries came from, according to documents.

Alexus was in the hospital on life support for about two months, but doctors took her off life support and she died in July.

 Police arrested Salazar-Betancourt on Oct. 11 and are seeking first-degree murder charges against Salazar-Betancourt.