VINEYARD, Utah — A man and woman from Utah County were arrested Thursday in connection with the death of their 4-month-old daughter.
The girl's parents, 29-year-old Alexzander Sean Berry and 24-year-old Myra Jane Megan, initially said they found the child stiff to the touch after putting her down for a nap Wednesday afternoon. She also looked pale and had fluid coming from her nose. They called 911 and Berry attempted CPR, then an ambulance brought the baby to Timpanogos Hospital where she was confirmed to be dead.
As medical staff examined the infant's body, they found severe diaper rash that appeared to have gone untreated. They also found a bruise on her forehead. An autopsy later found that she suffered severe blunt force trauma to her head, so much so that her skull was cracked and she had bleeding in her brain. This was determined as the baby's cause of death. They also found other bruises on her neck, chin and forehead.
Investigators also went to the family's home in Vineyard, where they said they found very unhealthy conditions. They said it "smelled of urine and was filthy," according to the arrest report. The infant's bed was a portable crib with no mattress, but multiple layers of blankets to serve as a mattress. The bedding was "dirty, smelly and damp," police said. They learned that there were nine people and two dogs living in the home. There were other children who investigators said were unclothed and dirty.
The parents were interviewed by police, during which they both said Berry had anger issues and had a history of being extremely rough with the infant. Megan also said Berry had physically abused her and their other kids.
Berry admitted that on Wednesday, he hit the baby with a closed fist on her head, grabbed her by the neck, carried her to the crib and slammed her head against the edge. He said he then swaddled the baby in a blanket and threw her into the crib, causing her to hit her head on the wall. He said he did this because he was frustrated by the infant's crying.
Megan said she was in the bathroom while most of this happened, but she rushed into the room after hearing "the most terrible scream that she had ever heard her child make," court documents stated. She arrived to see Berry wrap the child up and throw her into the crib. After this, the parents said they went downstairs to feed their other kids. They returned to the upstairs bedroom about 40 minutes later, which is when they found the infant unresponsive.
“Anybody who is or has been a parent has experienced frustration with a child for whatever reason, but most people don’t lash out this way," said Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriff's Office. "It’s frustrating, it’s tragic, and there’s an innocent little child whose very likely entire life was not much different than Wednesday afternoon.”
Berry was arrested on charges of child abuse homicide and aggravated child abuse. He was ordered to be held without bail.
Police said Megan was arrested for aggravated child abuse because she knew about the ongoing abuse but did not report it. Her bail was set at $10,000.
“The abuse and ultimate death of this child is disturbing and heartbreaking," said Laurieann Thorpe, the executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Utah. "There is never an excuse for hurting a child. All children deserve to grow up in a stable and loving environment with caregivers who set them on a healthy path. But caregivers can’t do it alone. Often abuse occurs because family stressors are overwhelming. When we rally around families and help encourage their strengths, the effects can be far-reaching. As a community, we need to do better to watch out for and support children and families.”
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Resources for victims of child abuse:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org. The statewide child abuse and neglect hotline is 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).
Help with Children
Those who feel stressed out with a child, who need a break or feel like they need counseling or training can reach out to one of the following agencies:
- The Family Support Center has 15 locations throughout the state and offers a free crisis nursery for parents who have to keep appointments or who are stressed out. They also offer counseling and family mentoring. Call 801-955-9110 or visit familysupportcenter.org/contact.php for more information.
- Prevent Child Abuse Utah provides home visiting in Weber, Davis, and Box Elder counties. Parent Educators provide support, education, and activities for families with young children. Their statewide education team offers diverse trainings on protective factors, digital safety, bullying, and child sex trafficking. They are available for in-person or virtual trainings and offer free online courses for the community at pcautah.org.
The Office of Home Visiting works with local agencies to provide home visits to pregnant women and young families who would like to know more about being parents. Home visitors are trained and can provide information about breastfeeding, developmental milestones, toilet training, nutrition, mental health, home safety, child development, and much more. Find out more at homevisiting.utah.gov.
