December prelim hearing set for man accused of killing infant son

A December preliminary hearing date has been set for a 24-year Rio Vista man who was arrested in January in connection with the death of his 2-month-old son.

Court records show Tre Kenneth Clay was scheduled to appear Wednesday in Department 7 of Solano County Superior Court for a readiness conference and the hearing setting.

Judge Tim Kam scheduled a readiness conference for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and the hearing, a sort-of minitrial that includes witness testimony and the presentation of physical evidence, for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 16 in the Justice Building in Vallejo.

The Solano County District Attorney’s Office filed its complaint against Clay on Jan. 26 and entered a Ramey warrant, an arrest warrant issued by a judge before the prosecutor has filed formal charges, the matter heard by Judge William J. Pendergast in Department 11 and later transferred to Department 7. Clay faced a jail arraignment on Jan. 29.

The Solano County Public Defender represents Clay, but it was unclear from court records what plea the defendant has entered but it is likely not guilty because of the hearing setting. Besides firstdegree murder, Clay faces a charge of child abuse resulting in death.

Taken into custody by Solano County Sheriff investigators without incident on Jan. 23 at his home, he is suspected of severely injuring the infant, who later died at an East Bay hospital. Clay remains in Solano County Jail without bail.

According to a press release issued by the Rio Vista Police Department, officers received a call during the evening of Jan. 18 about an infant with “suspicious injuries” who had been taken to Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center in Antioch.

The officers began an investigation and immediately requested the help of detectives from the Solano County Sheriff’s Office.

Shortly after arriving at Kaiser Antioch, the infant was taken by ambulance to Oakland Children’s Hospital. Sheriff’s detectives responded to both hospitals and were told the infant had died from his injuries.

Detectives continued their interviews and evidence collection at both hospitals. A search warrant was obtained for a home on Fourth Street in Rio Vista, where investigators believe the infant suffered life-ending injuries. Sheriff’s detectives and crime scene investigators processed the scene and collected evidence, according to the statement.

During the following days, more interviews were conducted, camera footage reviewed, evidence processed, an autopsy performed, and behavioral experts consulted, which led to the arrest warrant for Clay.