Two Washington parents are facing second-degree murder charges following the death of their seven-week-old son, a case punctuated by disturbing allegations that the mother filmed a social media dance video in the hospital while the infant was on life support.
On Thursday, March 12, Pierce County prosecutors charged Alyssa Jade Vanderbeck, 19, and Mark Anthony Labaco Clamor, 21, in connection with the death of their son, identified in court documents as N.C. In addition to the murder charges, Clamor faces a count of homicide by abuse. Both are currently held in the Pierce County Jail on $1,000,000 bond.
A Fatal Pattern of Abuse
The investigation began on Wednesday, March 4, when Clamor called 911 to report that his son was not breathing. According to a probable cause affidavit, the infant was rushed to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma in critical condition. He succumbed to his injuries five days later, on March 9.
A medical evaluation and subsequent autopsy revealed a harrowing list of injuries consistent with “abusive head trauma,” including:
- Subdural hemorrhages (bleeding on the brain)
- Anoxic brain injury (lack of oxygen to the brain)
- Retinal hemorrhages
- Healing rib fractures, suggesting a history of physical trauma.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s office officially ruled the death a homicide.
Admissions of “Rough” Treatment
During interrogations with the Lakewood Police Department (LPD), Clamor reportedly admitted to handling the newborn aggressively. He told investigators he picked the child up and “jerked” him after the infant became fussy. Clamor acknowledged that the child’s head “jerked back pretty hard” and admitted his actions were “rough,” the affidavit states.
Vanderbeck told police that she and Clamor discovered the baby was unresponsive after they had finished taking a shower together. She admitted that in a “panic,” they attempted to rouse the infant by “shaking him.”
Investigators discovered that the couple waited approximately one hour after noticing the infant was in “significant distress” before contacting emergency services. During that hour, Vanderbeck allegedly filmed videos of the child struggling to breathe and sent them to family members asking for advice, rather than seeking immediate medical intervention.
The TikTok Controversy
Perhaps the most chilling detail in the prosecution’s case involves Vanderbeck’s behavior at the hospital. While her son was in a coma and “not expected to survive,” investigators discovered a video posted to her TikTok account on Sunday, March 8.
The footage, filmed in the bathroom of the infant’s hospital room, shows Vanderbeck performing a slow dance to “upbeat” music. Police officers noted that the couple’s demeanor throughout the week was “unusual” given the gravity of their son’s condition and the looming investigation.
“The videos were filmed in multiple locations in their residence and showed the child in serious distress,” the affidavit noted, describing the infant’s breathing as “labored” and “posturing.”
Legal Proceedings
Vanderbeck appeared in court on March 12, where she was seen visibly crying during the proceedings. It remains unclear if either defendant has retained private counsel or will be represented by public defenders.
Both defendants remain in custody as the investigation continues. If convicted of second-degree murder, they face significant prison sentences under Washington state law.
