Father accused of suffocating four-month old daughter with soother 'because she wouldn't sleep'

A 28-year-old man in Ohio was charged with aggravated murder in the suffocation death of his 4-month-old daughter. Prosecutors allege the incident began with a parent’s frustration over a crying infant. Deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive baby at a home in Utica on October 13, 2023. The child was taken to Licking Memorial Hospital, where staff observed suspicious injuries before the child was pronounced dead. The man allegedly initially claimed he had been asleep, heard the baby gasping, removed her from her crib, and performed CPR without calling 911. Relatives reported hearing the infant scream and confronting him inside the home. Prosecutors also alleged alcohol use, video gaming late at night, and inattentiveness to the child.

"Chance Terrence Topp, 28, was charged after a local grand jury returned a 13-count superseding indictment against him, according to court records seen by Law & Crime . Among the charges are aggravated murder, strangulation, domestic violence, reckless homicide and falsification, along with two counts each of murder, involuntary manslaughter and endangering children."

"Deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive infant at a home on Crestview Drive in Utica around 7:32 p.m. on October 13, 2023, according to a news release from the Licking County Sheriff's Office. Emergency personnel transported the child to Licking Memorial Hospital, where staff noticed what they called suspicious injuries on the infant before she was pronounced dead, police said."

"Court documents obtained by Columbus CBS affiliate WBNS indicate Topp initially told investigators he had been asleep, heard the baby gasping for air and removed her from her crib to perform CPR, though he did not call 911. The investigation challenged that account. Relatives told detectives they heard the infant screaming and confronted Topp inside the home, shouting, "What did you do?" as reported by local NBC affiliate WCMH."

"Topp allegedly rejected their help. Family members also reportedly told police that Topp regularly stayed up late playing video games, consumed alcohol and was consistently inattentive to the child. The trial follows a months-long investigation during which Topp was initially uncooperative, according to Assistant Prosecutor Tyler McCoy. McCoy told reporters"

Read at Irish Independent