Updated on Tuesday, January 15 — Boyfriend charged with murder; mother facing child abuse charge
Updated on Friday, January 11 — There are more details being revealed in the death of the 13-month-old Damien Kai King.
According to court documents, Justin Mitchell Lastra called 911 on Tuesday stating the child had fallen down the stairs of the home and was unresponsive.
When Guthrie EMS arrived, the child was found unresponsive with his face and head covered in bruising.
The child was taken to Mercy Logan County Hospital as doctors and EMS crews performed CPR for over an hour until they were able to obtain a faint pulse. He was quickly transported to OU Medical Center and into the level one trauma.
Following several examinations, including CT scans, the child was found to have a traumatic brain injury and several fractures, including to the spine and ribs, along with lung contusions, liver lacerations and bowel contusions, according to the court document.
The child died Thursday evening.
Michelle Marta King, the mother of the 13-month-old, went to work Tuesday morning, while her 9-year-old child went to school, and left Lastra with the smaller child.
Lastra, who has lived in the house for the past four months, reportedly told investigators the child was acting fine before falling down the stairs and that the multiple bruises were result of the child learning how to walk.
Lastra said the child would try to walk but instead would fall on the hardwood floors causing the bruises. He reportedly told the investigator the child would fall and never put his hand out to keep him from hitting his head. He added the child was was accident prone and “liked to fall.”
A child abuse expert says the injuries were the result of forceful trauma and the injuries would not be expected from a fall down the stairs.
The expert added the injuries indicate the child was repeatedly forcefully struck over his body and head, or that his body and head were forcefully struck onto a firm object.
With the nature of the brain injury, the child had severe symptoms shortly after the injury occurred, according to the expert.
As earlier reported this week, Lastra has several prior convictions for domestic assault and battery along with other guilty pleas.
Formal charges have not been filed on King and Lastra as of Friday afternoon, but both have been detained to the Logan County Jail.
Updated on Thursday, January 10 — Child’s name is Damien Kai King (DOB: 11/27/17)
Updated on Thursday, January 10 — Guthrie News Page has learned the 13-month-old child involved in the suspected child abuse case has died this evening at a Oklahoma City hospital.
Updated on Thursday January 10, 2019 — Mother, boyfriend arrested for first degree murder
Updated on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 — The man accused of child abuse has a history of crime.
According to online records, Justin Mitchell Lastra has pleaded guilty to 9 charges since 2008. All coming in Payne County.
His guilty pleads, include domestic assault and battery, disturbing the peace, obstruction, concealing stolen property, domestic assault and battery, resisting law enforcement, domestic assault and battery, possession of marijuana and domestic assault and battery.
Lastra just recently began dating the child’s mother Michelle King, who was also arrested on a child abuse charge.
The 13-month-old male child remains in critical condition at OU Medical Center.
Original Article
A call to 911 was made at 9:48 a.m. stating a 13 month old child had fallen down the stairs at 116 E. Washington. However, officials don’t believe that to be true.
Guthrie EMS responded to the home and immediately requested police assistance.
Within minutes, the baby was transported to Mercy Logan County Hospital with police officers blocking traffic for the ambulance. After several minutes, the baby was taken to OU Medical Center. Again, police escorted the ambulance through town, including an escort to the hospital by a Logan County deputy and a Guthrie police officer.
The child was admitted in critical condition with a head injury.
At the residence, an adult male and adult female were separated outside the home as police and DHS workers investigated the case. Both adults were later taken to the police department for questioning.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations tells Guthrie News Page that two arrests have been made.
The child’s mother, Michelle King, 28, and Justin Lastra, 30, were taken into custody for child abuse.
OSBI says the child suffered non-accidental head trauma.
Guthrie News Page will have more as it becomes available.
No man is qualified to judge. This mother is innocent. This family needs prayers anmed a fair trial