Mom, 22, Accused of Child Abuse Alleges Her 1-Year-Old Son's Fatal Injuries Were Caused by ‘Rough Play with a Sibling’ By Escher Walcott

A New Mexico mother accused of fatally abusing her infant son has insisted that his injuries were from “rough play with a sibling,” according to police.

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, Donna Phillips, 22, and Onesimus Skywater, 33, were arrested and charged in connection with the death of their 1-year-old son, Calian Skywater, the Clovis Police Department said in a news release. The child was pronounced dead after being taken to Plains Regional Medical Center unresponsive with “extensive injuries” on his head, face and arms on Nov. 27, 2024.

An initial autopsy found that Calian had bruising on 70-80% of his body and trauma to the head, while a final autopsy report in April 2025 noted “major blunt trauma to Calian’s head and other physical injuries.”

Calian’s mother, Phillips, allegedly told detectives that his injuries were caused “from rough play with a sibling and a fall from a high chair,” according to police.

New Mexico OMI logged her son’s death as “undetermined.” However, a doctor’s review concluded that Calian’s injuries were a result of child abuse.

“Calian Skywater’s body showed multiple injuries that did not correspond with the statements provided by his parents,” said police. “The doctor communicated that their ‘totality of the findings present are diagnostic of fatal physical abuse inflicted upon Calian.’ ”

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Phillips previously alleged Calian had “fallen three days prior, causing his injuries,” and a pediatric physician had seen him,” according to an earlier police news release.

The infant’s death occurred just weeks after he and his siblings returned to their mom after being in foster care, according to the Sept. 10 police news release. The children had previously been “seized” at the time of Cailan’s birth in Nov. 2023 by the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Division (CYFD).

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Following their arrest on Wednesday, Phillips and Skywater were each charged with Intentional Abuse of a Child Resulting in the Child’s Death. They were taken into custody at the Curry County Adult Detention Center. 

Calian’s siblings are currently in the custody of a foster family in New Mexico, said police.

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.