Newcastle, OK: An Oklahoma man, who had previously admitted to assaulting his child’s mother, has now been taken into custody for the alleged murder of the 9-month-old.
A 25-year-old man from Newcastle, Hunter Allen Smiley, was recently arrested following the tragic death of an infant in the hospital. The arrest was made based on information provided by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).
Officers from the Newcastle Police Department were dispatched on April 10 in response to a call regarding an unresponsive 9-month-old at a residence. Upon arrival, the officers discovered the baby in Smiley’s care.
Soon after, the baby was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, where he experienced internal bleeding in his brain and hemorrhaging behind his eyes, according to local outlets KFOR and KOKH-TV.
The infant passed away two days later on April 12. The cause and manner of death have not been disclosed to the public.
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Before the tragic incident, the Newcastle Police Department sought assistance from the OSBI to look into a possible case of child abuse. Special agents from the OSBI then had a conversation with Smiley.
According to the ongoing investigation, Smiley was arrested on April 15, three days after the tragic incident, as reported by the OSBI.
He faced charges of first-degree murder and was taken into custody at McClain County Jail later that day.
Based on court records obtained by KFOR, it has been revealed that Smiley has a prior history of abuse with the baby’s mother.
According to the outlet, he was arrested in January 2023 for domestic assault and battery against her while she was pregnant with their son. He eventually admitted to assaulting her with fragments of a door that he had shattered during an altercation while under the influence.
Smiley was arraigned on April 25, as reported by Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn, KFOR and KOKH-TV. The judge set his bond at $5 million and ordered him to have no contact with the victim’s family.
If granted release on bond, Smiley will be obligated to wear an ankle monitor and will be prohibited from possessing any weapons.
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