BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (AP) - A West Virginia man who authorities say shook his 10-month-old daughter to death will face upgraded charges.
News outlets report charges against 25-year-old Jacob Lee Richards will be upgraded to child abuse resulting in death. Richards was initially arrested Wednesday and charged with child abuse resulting in injury and malicious or unlawful assault.
Bluefield police Detective K.L. Adams says he notified Richards that charges would be upgraded if Richards’ daughter died. The infant died Saturday afternoon at a hospital.
According to a criminal complaint, Richards told investigators that the infant had been crying all day and that he had shaken the baby girl for approximately one minute. Richards told police the baby immediately began gasping for air and that’s when he called 911.
It’s unclear if Richards has a lawyer.
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