MAN ACCUSED OF SMASHING 4 MONTH OLD BABY'S HEAD INTO ELEVATOR WALL TO GET HER TO STOP CRYING

PEOPLE

 

Man Accused of Smashing 4-Month-Old Baby's Head into Elevator Wall to Get Her to Stop Crying: Reports

By Brenton Blanchet  Published on August 31, 2024 08:13PM EDT

 

A Utah man has been arrested after allegedly smashing a baby's head inside of an elevator while her mother was at work, according to multiple reports.

 

Outlets including Fox affiliate KSTU, ABC affiliate KTVX and NBC affiliate KSL-TV reported that 28-year-old Zachary Walton was taken into custody on Sunday, Aug. 25, after an investigation at the Midvale Road Home, a local shelter, in Utah.

 

The Unified Police Department was called to the location before 8 p.m. local time, when authorities discovered a 4-month-old infant not breathing. They then began life-saving measures, including CPR, and had the child transported to a local hospital, per KTVX.

 

As of Thursday, Aug. 29, KSL reported, citing a booking affidavit, that the child is in critical condition and there is "an extremely high chance that the 4-month-old victim will die." The outlet added that her condition "has not improved and her brain activity is very flattened."

 

According to KSL, the child lives with her mother at the shelter, and Walton reportedly watched her as the mom worked a DoorDash shift on Aug. 25. Citing the affidavit, the outlet reported that Walton became "very frustrated" — with his frustration at "probably an 8 on a 10 scale" — when the infant "would not stop crying" at the time.

 

Walton then allegedly took the child to the roof, where he intended to vape and "destress," but, citing the arrest warrant, KSTU said the man "smashed" the infants head "into the metal corner of the elevator where the elevator curves to the sliding doors." According to KSL, which also cited the police documents, he allegedly repeated the action again with "significant force."

 

The child's heart stopped, and she was allegedly no longer breathing by the time Walton reached the roof with her, KSL reported citing the police affidavit. Police claimed that the man could be seen on surveillance video "carrying the 4-month-old limp victim around the roof for approximately 17 minutes while trying to blow into her face." Walton eventually called the girl's mother and a roommate told him to call 911, according to KSTU.

 

The Unified Police Department, according to KSL, noted that the child suffered two skull fractures and a "significant" brain bleed.

 

The department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for more information on Saturday, Aug. 31.

 

Walton was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail and faces two counts of second-degree felony intentional aggravated child abuse and one count of second-degree felony attempted murder, per KTVX.

 

The Salt Lake County Jail's inmate database lists his booking date as Aug. 25, as well as the charges of "murder" and "aggravated child abuse — intentionally or knowingly," as of Aug. 31.

 

It is not immediately clear if Walton has legal representation to comment on his behalf.