Man held in infant’s murder is mother’s boyfriend

CALDWELL, Idaho – A 27-year-old Caldwell man has been arrested and charged with the murder of a 3-month-old boy.

Canyon County Sheriff’s Senior Criminalist Chris Smith said the infant was brought to West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell with a head injury about 6 p.m. Wednesday but died a short time later.

Smith said Friday he expects to release the name of the boy after consulting with prosecutors.

Officers said they had suspicions from the time the child was taken in for treatment.

The suspect, arrested Friday, is the boyfriend of the infant’s mother. He brought the boy to the hospital and told investigators he accidentally dropped the child, causing the fatal injuries. He said he was alone with the child when it happened.

But an autopsy performed Friday morning did not support the suspect’s story, law enforcement officials said.

“The autopsy revealed the statements were not consistent with the evidence,” Smith said. The coroner’s office is working with the sheriff’s office on the case.