CEDAR CITY, Utah, Dec. 21, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A Cedar City couple is facing murder charges in the death of the woman’s 14-month-old daughter.
According to charging documents, Cherokee May Dea, 24, and Brendan Russel Dalton, 30, each are charged with the following crimes stemming from an April 13 incident:
- Murder, a first-degree felony
- 3 counts of child abuse — infliction of serious physical injury intentionally, a second-degree felony
- Endangerment of a child, a third-degree felony
According to a probable cause statement, Dea and Dalton told officers that after the toddler — identified in court papers as G.L.D. — was sick earlier in the evening, she arched her back and lost consciousness. Next, she stopped breathing, the couple said.
Dea and Dalton did chest compressions on G.L.D., then took her to the hospital, they told interviewing officers.
Doctors determined G.L.D. had suffered a brain injury. She was transported by medical helicopter from Cedar City to Primary Children’s Hospital, in Salt Lake City. After days on life support, she died on April 17.
The Medical Examiner concluded that G.L.D. died from blunt force trauma, and said the manner of death was homicide.
The report also noted prior injuries to the child, including two rib fractures, a distal right radius fracture, and a distal left humerus fracture, all of which were in the process of healing at the time of death.
In addition, G.L.D. tested positive for morphine.
Dea and Dalton said they had no explanation for the fractures or for the presence of morphine.
“However, both admitted to using drugs on nearly a daily basis,” the probable cause statement said. “Dea admitted that she and Dalton smoked marijuana every day, used methamphetamine about five days a week, and occasionally used heroin during their relationship.”
Dea also told police that on the night in question, she had been arguing with Dalton, saying she wanted to break up with him because she believed he was seeing other women. She said it was after she went outside to smoke a cigarette that G.L.D. became unresponsive.
Another witness interviewed by police reported seeing Dea shake G.L.D at the residence about six months before the baby’s death.
Dea and Dalton are reportedly being held in the Iron County Jail, although a website only shows information on Dea’s case.
