Cowlitz Sheriff detectives have arrested a Kelso man for an alleged felony murder.
Deputies are investigating evidence indicating that the man, 20-year-old Christopher Everett, killed his one-month-old baby by physical abuse.
The child, James Childers, died around 2:00 a.m. Sunday at Oregon Health and Science University after being treated for injuries consistent with “shaken baby” syndrome.
The investigation began Friday after a call from 307 Willow St. in Kelso reporting that a baby was not
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Cowlitz Sheriff detectives have arrested a Kelso man for an alleged felony murder.
Deputies are investigating evidence indicating that the man, 20-year-old Christopher Everett, killed his one-month-old baby by physical abuse.
The child, James Childers, died around 2:00 a.m. Sunday at Oregon Health and Science University after being treated for injuries consistent with “shaken baby” syndrome.
The investigation began Friday after a call from 307 Willow St. in Kelso reporting that a baby was not breathing. An ambulance transported the baby to St. John Hospital, where a doctor informed the a sheriff that the baby had life threatening injuries including bruising in the brain, broken ribs, broken arm and abdominal injuries.
After Childers was flown by lifeflight to Oregon Health, a doctor there confirmed the injuries and said they were signs of physical abuse.
A pediatrician at the Child and Adolescent Clinic had seen the baby Friday morning to follow up on a rash on his mouth. The pediatrician and other medical staff said the baby was otherwise healthy then.
The investigation revealed that the baby was in the care and custody of Everett, who lives at the house on Willow with the baby’s mother.
Everette denied injuring the baby to deputies but admitted he shook the baby from one to two minutes when he found the baby was not breathing.
An autopsy will be conducted but has not been scheduled.
The sheriff’s office will not release any more information at this time, as the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone who has information about the case should call detective Brad Thurman at 360-577-3092.