Lethbridge man charged in death of girlfriend’s baby
Lethbridge police have charged a man in connection with the April homicide of his girlfriend’s baby, who had been left in his care.
Tyler Brian Hogan, 40, of Lethbridge, was arrested in the community without incident Wednesday and charged with one count of second-degree murder.
He was in court Thursday and his next appearance is scheduled for Aug. 3.
Paramedics were called April 28 to a home along the 600 block of 17th Street North for reports of a child in medical distress.
We were originally told the child suffered a seizure, SCOTT WOODS, Staff Sgt. with the Lethbridge Police Service’s criminal investigation section
When they arrived, they found nine-month-old Austin Lucas Wright not breathing and in cardiac arrest.
He was taken to Chinook Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Staff Sgt. Scott Woods with the Lethbridge Police Service’s criminal investigation section said Hogan lived with Austin and the boy’s mother.
It’s believed Austin had been left in Hogan’s care while she went to work. No one else was at home at the time.
While the man was caring for him, the baby started to cry and was assaulted, sustaining extensive, life-threatening injuries.
“It’s our belief that it happened fairly shortly after the child was placed in his care,” Woods said.
Woods said 911 was called about 10 to 20 minutes after the incident and the baby was taken to hospital.
“We were originally told the child suffered a seizure,” Woods said.
An autopsy later determined the child died as a result of blunt force trauma, that his injuries were not consistent with a fall, and the death was deemed a homicide.
Woods said the child’s mother and biological father are co-operating with the investigation.
He said the events have been “very traumatic” for the family, but he believes the progression of the investigation and the charges laid has helped bring closure.