Coeur d’Alene man charged with murder in death of stepson

A Coeur d’Alene man was charged Thursday with first-degree murder in the death of his young stepson last month.

Joseph J. Davis, 31, was arrested Aug. 27 for felony injury to a child. Maliki Willburn, 16 months old, was hospitalized in Spokane for head trauma and died Aug. 29.

First District Magistrate Judge Mayli Walsh allowed the charge to be amended to murder Thursday. Davis, appearing in court in jail clothing and restraints, said he understood the new charge and the maximum penalty of life in prison or death if he is convicted.

Davis is being held in the Kootenai County Jail on $1 million bond.

Police and medics were called to the 800 block of North 5th Street in Coeur d’Alene on Aug. 26 and found the child having difficulty breathing and showing signs of “obvious head trauma,” Coeur d’Alene police said.

Davis told police he had been alone with the child for 20 minutes and didn’t know how he was injured.