A 28-year-old man, Zachary Jarred Walton, has been charged with murder and aggravated child abuse by the Salt Lake County District Attorney. These charges come after an unfortunate incident resulted in the tragic death of an infant under his care.
On Friday, District Attorney Sim Gill took legal action against Walton, charging them with first-degree felony murder and two counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse.
Allegations have surfaced regarding an incident where Walton reportedly caused harm to a 4-month-old baby in a Midvale shelter, purportedly in an attempt to quiet the child’s cries.
A police report states that Walton, who was babysitting the infant, displayed extreme frustration and forcefully struck the baby’s head against an elevator wall at The Road Home, a private non-profit shelter for individuals facing homelessness.
Following the incident, Walton was immediately taken into custody and is now being held at the Salt Lake County Jail. He is facing charges of attempted homicide and aggravated child abuse. The baby unfortunately did not survive.
Walton is currently being detained without the possibility of release.