LOGAN, Utah, July 31, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A Logan man has been arrested after the suspected smothering death of his baby daughter in December.
Kyle Taylor Gooch, 30, was booked into the Cache County Jail on Tuesday on suspicion of aggravated murder, a first-degree felony.
The victim was Kynlee Jo Corbridge, one of three children Gooch had with his girlfriend, a probable cause statement says. Kynlee was 12 months old, a GoFundMe fundraising account says.
Logan Police officials were called to the scene on Dec. 15, 2018, the court statement says.
“Kynlee Jo Corbridge, who had been found in her crib unresponsive by her biological mother’s live-in boyfriend, Kyle Taylor Gooch,” it says. “On scene, patrol officers and emergency medical personnel observed Kynlee in her crib, tightly swaddled in a large blue blanket. Kynlee was obviously deceased.”
Kynlee had signs of severe trauma the statement says, noting bruising to her head, ears, and the area behind her ears.
“Kynlee also had several bright red abrasions on her face,” the probable cause statement says. “Kynlee’s hair and clothing was also very wet with no explanation for this.”
Using her temperature, investigators estimated the baby had died at about 7 or 8 the evening before they were summoned.
Post Miranda, Gooch told officers that Kynlee’s mother picked him up from work with their three children, and they ran some errands before going home to eat fast food they had purchased.
At about 7 p.m. Dec. 14, Kynlee’s mother was called and asked to pick up gifts donated by Sub for Santa. She was gone about 30 minutes, the probable cause statement says.
“Kyle stated when (she) left, Kynlee was screaming hysterically. Kyle stated he put Kynlee to bed while (her mother) was gone. Kyle stated he swaddled Kynlee in a large blue blanket like a burrito by rolling her from one end to the other. Kyle stated this helps calm Kynlee down.
“Kyle stated he next tried to feed Kynlee some sweet potato baby food and milk but she was not interested. Kyle stated he then placed Kynlee into her crib, face down, and she was calm before he left the room.”
The next morning, Gooch said he found Kynlee deceased in her crib. He alerted Kynlee’s mother, and he called 911 about 15 minutes after finding the body, the statement says.
Gooch said Kynlee’s bruises were from falls since she had recently begun walking.
An autopsy found that Kynlee had 13 blunt force injuries to the head, multiple abrasions and contusions to the head and scalp, and blunt force trauma to the torso. The autopsy did not find any internal injuries that could have caused death, the probable cause statement says.
“The constellation of bruises on the ears and back of the head and scalp, combined with the abrasions on the face, are consistent with inflicted pressure as might occur with smothering.”
The report also said that because Kynlee was swaddled and did not have use of her arms, she could not have caused the injuries herself after being wrapped and put in her crib.
“Possible causes of death would include intentional smothering and accidental asphyxia,” the report says.
A pediatrician consulted said the injuries were consistent with child abuse, and added that a baby of Kynlee’s age would have been able to turn its head to avoid accidental asphyxiation.
When questioned, Kynlee’s mother “stated Kyle would be very controlling of her and her children,” the probable cause statement says.
“I asked (her) if she believed Kyle was capable of smothering Kynlee. (She) stated ‘Yeah I do.'”
The mother also said that when the older son was crying, Gooch would lock him in his room. She also demonstrated how Gooch would “discipline” the children, the statement said.
“I asked (her) to tell me about the discipline. (She) stood up and demonstrated how Kyle will stand behind the children and cover their mouths until they stop crying.”
In June of this year, Gooch pleaded guilty to assault in exchanged for criminal mischief, intoxication and two domestic violence in the presence of a child charges being dismissed.
In a case filed June 24 of this year, he pleaded to violating a protective order filed by Kynlee’s mother.
