Jan. 16 -- ELKHART -- A man was formally charged with murder Thursday following the death of an infant in his care.
Miguel Freid Garcia, 21, of Elkhart, is accused in the death of the child dating back to Dec. 16.
Elkhart Police Department responded to Elkhart General Hospital for a 20-month-old with a skull fracture.
The child's mother, Kiley Solum, and her boyfriend, Garcia, told police that the baby was injured when he slipped and fell on the hardwood floors in their apartment on Friday, Dec. 13.
They told police that when he fell, the baby, identified in court documents as Z.S., showed no signed of injury other than crying about about 15 minutes and that he was acting normal after that until Dec. 16, prompting them to bring him to the hospital.
Medical staff at the hospital though did not believe the injuries consistent with a fall. They were unable to prove otherwise, but due to the severe nature of Z.S.'s injuries, doctors transported him to Riley Children's Hospital.
The following day, Riley Children's Hospital informed Elkhart detectives that the baby was non-responsive and suffered from a fracture to the occipital bone in the skull, bleeding on the brain in the subdural space, clotting in the sinus veins that runs from the brain to the heart, a possible traumatic brain injury, retinal hemorrhages, and a low platelet count.
He also had bruising on the inner right thigh that could possibly be finger or handprint and an injury to his liver, hospital officials reported.
Riley Children's Hospital doctor and specialist in child abuse cases Ralph Hicks told detectives that with the injuries sustained, it was unlikely that Z.S. had fell on Dec. 13, and more likely that the incident happened on Dec. 16.
On Dec. 18, detectives met with Solum and Garcia. The couple reportedly told police that Garcia dropped Solum off at work around 4 p.m. Dec. 16 and at that time the baby was acting normal in the care of Garcia, who was alone with the baby.
A forensic search of Solum and Garcia's cell phones revealed a video taken by Garcia at 4:25 p.m. that day -- the day the baby arrived at the hospital -- where the baby was acting normal, and one later that same day at 5:44 p.m. where the baby was lying on the floor appearing to be unable to lift his head and making sounds like he was in pain, according to a probable cause affidavit.
On Dec. 20, Z.S. died as a result of his injuries.
Amanda Paul, a forensic and pediatric pathologist, conducted an autopsy at the Marion County Coroner's Office on Dec. 24, and determined the manner of death to be homicide. Paul said that the injuries would have been acute from the time they were inflicted by another person, not consistent with a ground-level fall, and described the head injury as "devastating." She further advised that the inflicted injuries were not consistent with a ground level fall.
Garcia was arrested this past Monday on a charge of aggravated battery, with a charge of murder added on Tuesday. Charges were formally filed through the Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office Thursday. Garcia is being held without bond. His initial hearing is scheduled for Jan. 23.