Dad, 22, Charged in Connection with 4-Week-Old Baby’s Death After Allegedly Admitting to ‘Striking’ Her for ‘Crying Too Much’

An Arizona father is facing murder charges in the death of his 4-week-old daughter after allegedly admitting to striking her because she was “crying too much,” authorities said.

Jonathan Enriquez, 22, has been charged with first-degree murder and child abuse, according to a press release from the Mesa Police Department obtained by PEOPLE.

Police say they responded to a “baby not breathing” call at an apartment complex on Covina Street in Mesa, Ariz., just before 9 a.m. on July 11.

First responders attempted life-saving measures before transporting the infant to a hospital, where she remained in critical condition until she was pronounced dead on July 26.

Initially, Enriquez told authorities the baby had choked while being fed. However, investigators found the infant had other injuries in various stages of healing and determined Enriquez was alone with her when she stopped breathing.

“Both parents of the baby girl were interviewed, and during Jonathan’s interview, he admitted to striking his child,” police said.

Court documents cited by AZ Family and KPNX-TV indicate doctors found multiple injuries, including a fractured skull, broken leg and ribs, bleeding in the brain, and bruising around her eyes.

Enriquez allegedly told police he was “quite forceful” while changing her diapers and admitted to becoming frustrated, though he initially denied hitting her. He also claimed her injuries may have been caused by a fall from a car seat into a stroller, or from being struck by a seat belt buckle.

An autopsy later revealed that many of the baby’s wounds were “catastrophic” and consistent with “slamming, crushing or stomping,” according to court documents.

During the investigation, detectives learned Enriquez had texted the child’s mother, urging her to return home from work because the baby wasn’t breathing and he “messed up.”

Mesa police say that in a follow-up interview, Enriquez admitted to striking the baby in her bassinet on the left side of her head because she was “crying too much,” according to AZ Family and KPNX-TV.

Enriquez expressed “deep remorse” for his actions, per court documents. He is being held on a $1 million bond.