UNNAMED INFANT GIRL - 4 months (2014)/ Charged: Father; Franklin Finney - Walker LA

Walker man charged with manslaughter after causing his daughter to stop breathing, authorities say

By Quincy Hodges, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on May 15, 2014 at 3:47 PM, updated May 15, 2014 at 9:54 PM

A 23-year-old man Wednesday evening was arrested and charged with manslaughter after he allegedly caused the death of his infant daughter, according to the Walker Police Department.

Franklin Finney, originally of Amsterdam, New York, has been living in Walker since 2012 was taken into custody after he admitted to authorities that on (April 19) while trying to put the baby down for a nap, he placed his hand over his daughter's mouth to stop her from crying. Finney also said that he didn't realize the child stopped breathing until the infant's mother, Kayla Depoy, walked in the room and saw that the baby was unresponsive.

"On the afternoon of April 19th, medical personnel, along with Walker Police, responded to a call for assistance at a residence on Ball Park Road in Walker related to an unresponsive four week old infant," Captain John Sharp, public information officer with WPD said. "After resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, the child was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where she was admitted in critical condition and placed on life support."

As the medical personnel examined the infant, they were unable to determine why the infant stopped breathing.

"Medical records indicate that the baby was closely examined and that a number of tests were performed in order to identify any previously undiagnosed medical conditions or any signs of trauma or abuse which might have caused respiratory failure," Sharp said. "Despite those efforts, no signs of trauma or indicators to suggest wrong doing were found, nor were any medical conditions discovered which could explain the baby's respiratory failure."

Soon after, due to circumstances surrounding the infant's condition, the Office of Child Services was notified of the child's visit to the hospital. OCS caseworkers interviewed both Depoy and Finney concerning the child's condition.

On (May 10) hospital officials and the Office of Child Services contacted police after Depoy and another family member expressed concern to medical personnel that Finney may have caused the child's condition.

"As time passed without identification of the cause of the baby's condition, and as it became apparent that she was unlikely to survive, consideration of previous events caused the infant's mother and other family members to question whether Mr. Finney might be responsible for the child's respiratory failure," Sharp said.

According to reports, Finney was seen on a previous occasion placing his hand over the baby's mouth while she was crying. Over the past three weeks, the infant displayed a lack of brain activity and her overall condition worsened. The child was living on life support, but that was discontinued on (May 13).

On Wednesday, Finney was brought in for additional questioning regarding his daughter's hospital visit on April 19.

"Finney initially denied any action that could have caused harm to the infant," Sharp said. "However, following additional questioning, Finney told detectives that while attempting to put the baby down for a nap, he became frustrated at his inability to console the crying child. Finney then admitted to placing his hand over the baby's mouth to stop her from crying."

Finney was arrested and booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center. He remains in custody with his bond set at $75,000.

http://www.nola.com/crime/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2014/05/walker_man_charged_with_mansla.html