ROY -- A 31-year-old Roy man was in the Weber County Jail Saturday night, facing homicide charges in the death of his 2-year-old stepdaughter.
Robert Abbott, of 1967 West 4700 South, was booked into jail Friday following his arrest on charges of first degree child abuse homicide, said Roy Police Chief Greg Whinham.
About 8 a.m. Friday the girl's mother called authorities to say that the youngster was unresponsive, said Whinham. When emergency responders arrived at Abbott's home, they found the girl dead from apparent suffocation.
Police interviewed Abbott who eventually provided information that led to his arrest late Friday afternoon, Whinham said.
The police chief declined to detail what Abbott told police.
Abbott was apparently using a discipline technique to stop the girl from crying when her death occurred, Whinham said.
It is believed that Abbott had used the technique before, Whinham said.
"There is indication... that it's gone on for a while," he said.
Investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy, but suspect that the girl died of suffocation, Whinham said.
The girl's mother is married to Abbott. They have a 1-year-old child together. Two other children in the home, a 7-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy, are not related to Abbott, said Whinham
Abbott's wife is cooperating with investigators, the chief said.
All of the children have been placed with family members.
Whinham said the death of the girl, apparently at the hands of a caregiver, is particularly tragic.
"These are the worst kind of cases you can get," he said. "when it's by someone who is supposed to be a nurturer and loving parental figure it works on many levels in the community."
Whinham said such a case is always difficult for investigators, many of whom have children of their own.
Comments