‘Perfect’ 12-Week-Old Baby Dies After Being Left Alone with Dad, 24, ‘for the First Time’

A Maine man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of his 12-week-old daughter.

The Penobscot Regional Communication Center received a 911 call on Jan. 16 reporting that an infant was unresponsive, according to a news release from Maine State Police (MSP). The baby, identified as Lyla Samuels, was taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Orrington Fire and Rescue, the Brewer Fire Department, and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call, and MSP’s Major Crimes Unit was contacted to investigate.

Investigators later arrested Lyla’s father, Shawn Samuels, 24, on Jan. 17 on charges of domestic violence elevated aggravated assault and two counts of violation of bail, police said.

Detectives then learned Lyla died the next day, on Jan. 18. Police said her death was ruled a homicide.

After an autopsy on Jan. 19, Shawn was arrested again and charged with murder. He is being held at the Penobscot County Jail, according to the police news release.

The Boston Globe reported that first responders performed CPR when they arrived at the residence and that the baby began breathing again, according to officials on the scene. The outlet also reported that a relative called the dispatcher while responders were en route and said “the father of this child is alone with the child for the first time,” per The Boston Globe.

Shawn appeared in court on Jan. 21 and entered a not guilty plea. His bail was set at $250,000, and his next court date is scheduled for Feb. 13.

An autopsy report reviewed by local newspaper Bangor Daily News (BDN) stated that Lyla had four broken ribs, retinal hemorrhages, and brain swelling. Chief Medical Examiner Alice Briones found the brain bleeding was an acceleration-deceleration injury and said it would not have occurred in a healthy baby, according to the report.

Lyla’s mother, Leah Collins, remembered her daughter in an interview with BDN, saying Lyla was “a gift from God, returned to Heaven much too soon.”

Leah said her daughter is “missed beyond what words could ever express, but will forever stay in our hearts as the precious, perfect baby girl that she is.”

Family members also shared tributes on social media. Elizabeth Collins wrote on Facebook, “The sweetest, smiliest, most beauuuutiful little light. She’s already so missed. We remember her and all the love, joy and giggles she brought to us. Rest in peace, pretty girl. Auntie loves you to the moon.”

Another relative, Nick Collins, wrote: “Lyla, we miss and love you so much. You will always be remembered as Leah’s perfect little nugget.”

A GoFundMe created to support Leah and her family has raised over $10,000.

“This family is loved by so many people. They would never ask for this type of support on their own but we refuse to allow them to suffer alone or assume this burden without the support of their friends, family, and community,” family friend Jeremy Boutot wrote in the fundraiser description.

“Your generous gift will help the Collins family take the necessary time off work, cover funeral expenses, and address other unforeseen expenses during this time of grieving,” the friend added.

“We know this amount doesn’t sound like much to help with this, and to be honest, it’s not. It’s really just a drop in the bucket, but we have faith there is still good in this world. We refuse to let the darkness win,” Boutot wrote.