Dad accused of suffocating 14-week-old son with pacifierl charged with depraved indifference murder and manslaughter (Lewiston, Maine)

Dad is identified as DANNY ADAMS.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2951993/Father-appears-court-accused-suffocating-14-week-old-baby-son-forced-pacifier-mouth-stop-crying.html

Father appears in court accused of suffocating 14-week-old baby son after he forced pacifier in his mouth to stop him crying

Told police he had bruised son's ears by squeezing them
Autopsy found baby Zade also had a fractured rib
Accused told cops he had injected heroin the night before
Faces sentence of 25 years to life if convicted

By Kate Pickles For Mailonline Published: 03:40 EST, 13 February 2015 | Updated: 07:55 EST, 13 February 2015

A father accused of killing his baby boy by suffocation after forcing a pacifier in his mouth, has pleaded not guilty.

Danny Adams, 24, of Lewiston is charged with depraved indifference murder and manslaughter in the death of his infant son following his death in December.

He denied the charges Justice MaryGay Kennedy read from a grand jury indictment, handed up last week.

Police said Adams forced a pacifier into the mouth of his 14-week-old son, Zade, shortly before he stopped breathing.

They said he told them he was frustrated that his son would not stop crying so put a pacifier in Jade's mouth and forced him to stay on his stomach by pushing on his back.

An autopsy determined the cause of death was asphyxiation.

Hornblower said he expects a bail hearing to be set to determine whether Adams will be held in jail without bail or allowed release prior to his trial.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Crockett asked that Adams be barred from contacting Zade's mother, Kaitlyn Baker, 18. Kennedy agreed.

Adams has been held without bail since his arrest in early January following the death of his son on December 14.

A murder conviction in Maine carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison; manslaughter, up to 30 years.

Adams told police in an earlier interview that he had injected heroin the night before at a friend's house, then smoked marijuana with Baker when he got home. He said he had bruised Zade's ears when he squeezed them with his thumb and fingers as he held the head of the baby, who continued to cry, according to court documents.

Adams said he caused bruising on Zade's forehead when he forced a pacifier in the baby's mouth and held it in place with his palm, while supporting his fingers on the baby's forehead.

Doctors also detected a rib fracture during the autopsy. He told police he had become frustrated with Zade's crying about four weeks earlier and had squeezed the baby with force.