Father pleads guilty to infant daughter’s murder
A father, who prosecutors believe staged a traffic accident to cover up his assault against his 6-month-old daughter, pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree murder in the child’s 2012 death.
Atu Campbell, 29, also pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse of a child under 8 years old. He will serve 20 years in prison without the possibility of parole in a settlement approved by Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee. Campbell’s trial had been scheduled for this week.
On Oct. 25, 2012, Memphis police responded to an accident at about 9 a.m. at Baskin and Dove streets in Frayser. Campbell had driven over a curb and crashed into a fence. His daughter, Anyiah Nicole Nabors, was found face down on the rear passenger floorboard.
Her car seat was upside down and had not been properly secured.
An off-duty Memphis firefighter witnessed the crash and administered aid. He said the baby had a faint pulse, was not breathing, was pale and had a “stiff body type.” She died at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
Campbell was first charged with reckless homicide, but after further investigation, officials learned that the infant suffered fractured ribs and a lacerated liver — injuries that were inconsistent with a minor traffic accident.
Campbell’s charges were upgraded to first-degree murder. Prosecutors had planned to argue during Campbell’s trial that the accident was executed to cover up the assault against the baby, officials with the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office said.