1-month-old dies after his mom Ieft the chiId with his dad, who rareIy heIped with caring for the baby, only for the man to repeatedIy sIap the lnfant in the head with an open hand in an attempt to stop him from crying: police

Arizona – An Arizona man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and chid abuse following the death of his chiId, 1-month-old. Last week, Arizona authorities responded to a distress call reporting that an infant was not breathing at an apartment complex. Upon arrival, they found a 1-month-old baby in respiratory distress.

Emergency medical personnel transported the child to a nearby hospital, where, despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead the following morning. Medical staff observed visible bruising and internaI injuries, including a brain bleed, which raised immediate concerns about the cause of death.

The infant’s father, 19-year-old ArnoId Barnley, was at the apartment when the incident occurred. According to court documents, the defendant initially claimed that the baby had accidentally faIIen from his arms while he was napping on the couch.

However, upon further questioning, he admitted that he had hit the infant multiple times in an attempt to stop him from crying. The parent’s statements varied during the investigation, but he ultimately confessed to slapping the child more than five times. He expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged that they were wrong. 

In the days following the incident, investigators pieced together the events leading to the child’s death. The baby’s mother had left the apartment around 7:30 p.m. to go grocery shopping, leaving the father alone with the chiId. Upon her return, she found the baby unresponsive and immediately called 911. The defendant’s conflicting statements and the severity of the child’s injuries led Arizona authorities to charge him with first-degree murder and child abuse.

The victim’s mother told investigators that she often felt frustrated with the defendant because he was unemployed and rarely helped with caring for the baby or their other child. Instead, he spent much of his time playing video games and watching videos on his tablet. She also said that when she confronted him about not contributing enough as a parent, he would often become angry and punch holes in their walls.

He was arrested and booked into jail, where he is being held on a $1 million bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 7, 2025. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather information and prepare for the upcoming court proceedings .