Baton Rouge man faces murder charge in infant’s death

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with an incident that led to the death of a three-month-old boy on May 16.

Jamarcus Harper, 33, of Baton Rouge, has been charged with first-degree murder.

Deputies responded to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital around 9 p.m. following a report that a child was suffering from a fractured skull and bleeding from the brain.

According to a report, medical staff at the scene said that the injuries were sustained from a “non-accidental fall”.

Before arriving at the hospital, deputies were called to the 8400 block of E Cypress Point Court for an unresponsive juvenile around 8 p.m. that same night. EBRSO deputies, the St. George Fire Department, and emergency responders were able to revive the victim’s heartbeat. The infant was then taken to the hospital. Two days later, on May 18, the three-month-old boy died from his injuries.

According to an affidavit, Harper put the victim down for a nap around 11:30 a.m. on May 16. He then left the room at 11:40 a.m., and when he came back five minutes later, he says he found the victim, who appeared to be uninjured, on the floor.

The affidavit says that Harper fed the 3-month-old around 7 p.m. and an hour later, he noticed the victim making jerking motions as spit bubbles came from his mouth. Harper also told authorities the baby did not appear to be breathing.

Harper then called the victim’s mother, who was working out of town, about the victim and his condition. An arrest report reveals the Baton Rouge man could not get the child’s mom on the phone, so he called 911 and then went to a neighbor’s house for help. Emergency responders later arrived and took over.

The victim’s mother said Harper was the only person to watch him while she was at work. She also says that the victim was in good health, uninjured, and was meeting all the milestones for his age.

After further talks with the victim’s mother, deputies discovered that she had spoken with Harper earlier in the day, around noon, and was told the victim had fallen out of the bed. She immediately called to check and didn’t see any bruising, as the victim seemed normal. Deputies say she called at 4:30 p.m. and again later at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to check on the victim.

Later that evening, the mother of the victim stated that she received a FaceTime call from Harper and that he advised her to get back home because the victim “was not doing good.”

Deputies also learned that the victim had been in the care of the mother and Harper since birth.

In concluding the investigation, the East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office confirmed that the victim died from non-accidental blunt force trauma to the left side of his head, causing the brain to bleed and swell.

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