Toddler was slain; warrant out for father

The recent death of a Coeur d’Alene toddler has been ruled a homicide and a $200,000 arrest warrant was issued Tuesday afternoon for the victim’s fugitive father, Barry L. McAdoo, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.

McAdoo, 30, was last seen Friday shortly before the toddler’s mother, Angela Cowles, called 911 to report her son’s injuries. The woman initially said her son, 15-month-old Brandon McAdoo, had fallen on ice. But she later said the boy’s father may have hurt Brandon while trying to retrieve a piece of plastic-coated paper from the boy’s mouth.

The toddler died Sunday morning at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. An autopsy performed Monday revealed Brandon had suffered a blunt force injury to his head.

Investigators also found other bruises on his body and evidence that his right forearm was healing from a fracture, according to the statement from sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger.

After the death was ruled a homicide, investigators obtained a warrant for McAdoo’s arrest on charges of felony injury to a child. McAdoo was last seen when he left the Monte Vista Motel’s mobile home parking lot in Coeur d’Alene.

McAdoo is described as 6 feet, 2 inches tall and about 300 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes and sometimes uses the names Berry Swendt, Lane McAdoo or Jeff McAdoo. Anyone with information about McAdoo’s location is asked to call the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 446-1311.