Dad, 22, Charged in Connection with 4-Week-Old Baby's Death After Allegedly Admitting to ‘Striking’ Her for 'Crying Too Much' By Kimberlee Speakman

An Arizona father has been charged with murder in connection with the death of his 4-week-old daughter after allegedly admitting to police that he struck the baby because she was “crying too much.”

Jonathan Enriquez, 22, was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse, according to a press release from the Mesa Police Department obtained by PEOPLE.

Police said they responded to an incident of a “baby not breathing” at an apartment complex on Covina Street in Mesa, Ariz., just before 9 a.m. local time on July 11.

First responders used “life-saving measures” to try to revive the baby, and she was transported to the hospital, where she remained in critical condition. On July 26, she was eventually “declared dead at the hospital.”

Officers stated in the release that it was “reported that the baby choked while being fed a bottle.” However, investigators “discovered the baby had other injuries” that were “in various stages of healing” when she was hospitalized, and that Enriquez had been alone with his daughter “when she stopped breathing.”

“Both parents of the baby girl were interviewed, and during Jonathan’s interview, he admitted to striking his child,” police said.

According to court documents obtained by AZ Family and KPNX-TV, doctors at the hospital observed that the 4-week-old baby had numerous injuries, including a fractured skull, a broken leg and ribs, bleeding in the brain and bruising around her eyes.

Police also stated in the court documents that Enriquez admitted to being “quite forceful” while changing the child’s diapers and admitted getting frustrated, but denied hitting the baby. He also alleged to police that the child had been injured after falling out of a car seat and into a stroller and hitting her head, and said separately that she was hit by a seat belt buckle, per AZ Family.

An autopsy revealed that the baby’s injuries appeared to be the result of “slamming, crushing or stomping,” and that many of the injuries were “catastrophic,” according to court documents, per the outlets.

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During their investigation, detectives also learned that Enriquez texted the mother of the child, asking her to return home from work, as the baby wasn’t breathing and he “messed up.” 

Mesa police said they interviewed Enriquez again following the investigation, and he allegedly admitted to hitting the baby in her bassinet on the left side of her head because she was “crying too much,” per AZ Family and KPNX-TV.

Enriquez expressed “deep remorse” for his actions, per the court documents. He is currently being held on a $1 million bond.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.