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.
Original article
The mother and her boyfriend have been arrested for first degree murder in a case where a 13-month-old child was found with non-accidental head trauma.
The child’s mother, Michelle King, 28, and Justin Lastra, 30, were taken to jail on Tuesday after calling 911 saying the child had fallen down the stairs.
However, firefighters and police immediately knew that was not the case when they arrived to the home. Related article: Video: Child suffers head injury; two people arrested
As of Thursday afternoon, the child remained in critical condition in a Oklahoma City hospital, but is not expected to live.
In court on Thursday, a criminal probable cause was filed and both subjects have been detained to jail.
Formal charges have not been filed in the case.
Lastra was given a one millon dollar bond and King a $500,000 bond.
Scumbag parents ?
My thoughts exactly! May that poor baby rest in peace and may justice be done!