Father pleads not guilty in death of 7-month-old

A San Diego firefighter pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder and felony child abuse in the death of his infant daughter, who authorities said had several injuries, including skull fractures.

Daniel Charles Marshall, 34, of Santee faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 7month-old Hailey Marshall, who was taken to a hospital April 22.

Doctors who treated the infant called authorities. The baby fell into a coma and died three days later.

Sheriff ’s Department detectives arrested Marshall last week after a seven-month investigation and booked him into county jail. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

During Marshall’s arraignment in El Cajon Superior Court, Deputy District Attorney Lucy Yturralde spoke of the extent and history of the baby’s injuries.

“This was an extremely violent crime,” Yturralde said. “Unfortunately, this is not the first time that baby Hailey was injured in her father’s care.”

“That morning, she was fine and injury free,” the prosecutor continued. “She was healthy. But at 7 o’clock, she was in a coma with multiple skull fractures.”

Marshall also gave “inconsistent statements” to authorities, the prosecutor said. An affidavit penned last week in support of an arrest warrant states that he initially said nothing had happened, then a day later said he’d tripped on stairs while holding the baby.

Marshall’s attorney, Michelle Cameron-Hunsaker, declined to comment after the hearing. In court, while asking for bail to be cut to $500,000, she said her client has been aware of the investigation for months, and has stayed in the region, where he is fully employed and has strong ties to the community.

Judge Robert Amador declined to cut bail, noting the history and extent of the injuries to the baby — including some 35 injuries of blunt force trauma to her head, he said.

Marshall joined the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department in 2019, and was assigned to emergency operations. A spokeswoman said the Sheriff ’s Department notified fire officials of the arrest last week, and he was reassigned to an administrative job.