Man To Stand Trial In Shaken Baby Death
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A man who allegedly shook his girlfriend's daughter to death was in court Friday morning for a preliminary hearing.
Kenneth Reeves allegedly abused 5-month-old Kamero Newton so badly that she ended up in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Today, Reeves was held for trial.
The baby's mother testified during the hearing.
She said she was gone for 10 minutes, making snacks downstairs when she heard the baby crying and in discomfort. She came back upstairs and changed her diaper, and said her daughter then suddenly became unconscious and went limp in her arms.
When she asked Reeves what happened, she said he told her he didn't know.
The little girl was rushed to Children's Hospital, but was later declared brain dead and died when her family chose to take her off life-support.
Health officials say the child died of acute subdural hematoma caused by recent abusive head trauma and swelling of the brain.
Reeves is facing homicide charges in the case.
During his preliminary hearing, an assistant county medical examiner who conducted the autopsy said the infant had several contusions on her face and head which contributed to the blunt force trauma. He also said unconsciousness is one of the first symptoms from the injury.
Reeves's attorney contended the child's mother did not see the alleged abuse happen and he claimed there was not enough evidence to prove that Reeves caused the hemorrhaging that lead to her death.
But the assistant district attorney said Reeves was responsible for the infant when they were alone.
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