Police: Drunk dad fell on 2-month-old daughter and killed her (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Dad is identified as EDWARD J. DOYLE.

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-montgomery-county-baby-killed-father-charged-20130225,0,5062073.story

Police: Dad who "drank too much" falls with baby in arms, killing her

By Manuel Gamiz Jr., Of The Morning Call
2:44 p.m. EST, February 25, 2013

A heavily intoxicated man fell on top of his 2-month-old baby girl early Sunday in Montgomery County, then put her in her baby swing to sleep where she later died, authorities said.

Edward J. Doyle, 28, of Upper Moreland Township, was charged Monday with child endangerment and was sent to Montgomery County Correctional Facility on $1 million bail.

According to a criminal complaint:

Upper Moreland Township police were dispatched at 9:33 a.m. to an apartment in the 2500 block of Horsham Road to investigate an unresponsive 2-month-old baby. The baby was located on the bed in the master bedroom and had red swelling on her forehead and bruises and cuts to the bridge of her nose. She was taken to the hospital, but was pronounced dead.

Police spoke to the baby's parents, Doyle and Nicole Lavelle, 30. The two have two daughters, one 15-months old and the other 2-months old.

Doyle told police he came home from work at 11 p.m. Saturday and went to the America Legion to celebrate a friend's birthday. He said he had about six beers and came home around 2:45 a.m. or 3 a.m., playing cards with friends when he returned. He said his wife went next door to get a DVD and he made something to eat, turned off the lights and fell asleep in the living room.

He said his daughter was on the swing set in the living room. He said when he woke up, he found her "white as a ghost" and limp and called police.

He later changed his story, telling police after returning from the American Legion, he and his wife went to their neighbor's apartment where they got into an argument about their tax return and finances. He said he returned home and the baby was crying in her baby swing.

He said he removed her from the swing and cradled her in his arms, but he tripped on the swing set and he fell on top of the baby. He said he checked to see if the baby was still breathing and put her back in the swing. He said he checked on her again at 7:15 a.m. and gave her a "binky." He said he believed she grabbed the pacifier, but he was groggy, so he wasn't sure.

Doyle said he called 911 when he found her unresponsive. Doyle told a detective he shouldn't have been caring for the baby since he "drank too much."