Sentenced: Mount Sidney Man Charged With Cruelty To Infant After Possible Drowning

[Sugar Cookie]

A Mount Sidney man has been charged with cruelty and injury to children after a two-month-old infant was found who required life-saving measures.

The infant was taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville for treatment after emergency personnel were dispatched for a possible drowning and performed emergency measures to save the child.

Following an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, Malik O’Bryan Strother, 25, was charged with felony cruelty and injury to children.

Mount Sidney man charged with cruelty to infant after possible drowning

The infant was taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville for treatment.

newsvirginian.com

Strother told the investigator he was at home on Valley View Drive watching his 2-month-old, his 1-year-old son and 3-year-old stepson after working the night shift at his job, the affidavit said. Around 12:30 p.m. on the day of the incident, Strother, who would later change his story, said his infant daughter was awakened from a nap by a barking dog. At that point, Strother said he decided to give her a bath, court records show.

Strother said when he put the infant in a tub of water, she rolled to her side "and extended her arms out in front of her." Strother said he performed CPR and "frantically looked for his cell phone to call 911 after the bathtub incident."

However, medical staff at Augusta Health said the infant showed no signs of drowning. Strother also stated she hadn't experienced any seizures in the past, according to the affidavit.

Following a CT scan, it was discovered the infant was suffering from brain bleed, the affidavit said. She also had several seizures at the hospital and began foaming at the mouth. A doctor noted the area of the bleed location was uncommon and most likely caused by trauma, the affidavit said. The child was then flown to UVA Health in Charlottesville.

That same day, a search of the home revealed two Blink security cameras, but Strother told authorities they only offered a live feed.

The following day, the infant was diagnosed with a number of injuries, including two bi-lateral brain bleeds, brain swelling, bruising behind one of her eyes and a spinal injury. A doctor said the child's injuries were consistent "with baby shaking," the affidavit said.

In a follow-up interview, Strother changed his version of events and claimed on the day the baby was injured he was holding her when he tripped over a vacuum cord and landed on top of her, the affidavit said.

The search warrant recently filed in Augusta County Circuit Court said that even if the cameras were live feed only, footage is often saved by the company itself, and authorities are now hoping to review the Blink footage to see if video of the incident exists.

https://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2024/04/26/affidavit-augusta-county-suspect-in-child-abuse-case-changed-story/73467813007/

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Malik Strother pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse after a near-death incident occurred to his daughter.

On March 21, Strother called the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office and other emergency responders for a reported drowning at his home. When the police arrived, life-saving treatment was given to the infant, and the baby was eventually flown to UVA Medical Center to treat its injuries.

ACSO investigators later found the injuries the child sustained did not match a drowning incident. Rather, investigators matched the injuries to Shaken Baby Syndrome — which Mayo Clinic describes as “a serious brain injury resulting from forcefully shaking an infant or toddler” — and questioned Strother further.

MSN

 

[BuffettGirl]

He might be sportin' the most punchable face I've ever seen...

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Malik Strother’s case started in March 2024 when police responded to a possible infant drowning. Life-saving measures were administered and the child was flown out to UVA Health in Charlottesville for treatment. According to investigators, a medical diagnosis revealed the injuries lined up with child abuse, not drowning.

During the investigation, Strother had changed the story up to investigators. In an affidavit filed in Augusta Circuit Court, Strother had told police in a follow-up interview that he tripped over a vacuum cord and fell on top of the baby. Another medical diagnosis revealed the injuries aligned with Shaken Baby Syndrome.

According to court records, several people submitted letters of support to the court. Their letters were on Strother’s side, hoping to ease his sentence. However, the judge still gave Strother a hefty punishment at his April 17 sentencing hearing — a 10-year sentence with five years suspended, as well as three years of supervised probation upon release, according to court records.

Mount Sidney man sentenced to prison for child abuse

Malik Strother was sentenced to five years in prison after causing serious harm to his daughter.

www.whsv.com

 

[runninfawn]

wow what a harsh sentence 10 years with 5 suspended.. he will be on probation longer than in jail grrrrrrrrrrr... i wonder how that poor baby girl is doing now... and boy it is so sad when adults act out and take their frustation on defenseless babies instead of being an adult and saying ok daddy/mommy needs time out and putting all 3 kids in a safe place (cribs for both younger ones) and oldest one at 3 could play in her room or watch a cartoon etc and daddy/mommy take time out go have a peacefull cup of coffee, or go sit out on balcony or porch or even just in their own kitchen... kids never died of screeming their heads off they will tired and quiet down and that is when parents time out is done or before as long as they are over being frustrated by the incident that got them so frustrated it was safer to take time out...