Affidavit: Baby died ‘a considerable amount of time’ before father got help

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - The affidavit in the case of an Evansville father charged with neglect in his infant son’s death shows the baby was already cold to the touch before he got help.

As 14 News reported Thursday, Rashid Caruthers was arrested in connection to the death of his 3-month-old son Kendrick Caruthers.

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Evan Gorman spoke with Kendrick’s mother, Angelina Hailey.

“I don’t feel alive right now,” Hailey said. “I just wish it was a bad dream. I should’ve stayed home.”

The affidavit, which was released on Friday, shows Caruthers was home alone with Kendrick and his three-year-old brother.

The court document shows Caruthers’s text messages that imply he smoked marijuana and admitted to taking a nap for an unknown amount of time.

Police say Caruthers told them he was in the living room playing video games and heard Kendrick, who was in a bouncy seat in another room, begin to fuss.

They say he told them he put the pacifier back in the baby’s mouth, and he fell back asleep.

The affidavit shows Caruthers told police he went to the other room to get a diaper, and when he came back the boy was not breathing.

The document details that he ran to the neighbor’s apartment for help. She is heard on 911 calls saying the baby was already cold.

You can hear part of that phone call in the video below:

The call continued as dispatchers explained how to perform CPR. The neighbor followed along and tried until paramedics arrive.

Hospital officials say Kendrick’s body temperature was between 93 and 94 degrees, meaning he had been dead for “a considerable amount of time.”

According to the affidavit, an autopsy revealed the baby suffered a subdural hematoma. Vanderburgh County Coroner Steve Lockyear says it is an injury that does not occur naturally.

Caruthers was in court on Friday afternoon.

Bond was set at $200,000. He’s ordered to have no contact with his three-year-old brother.

Caruthers is due back in court next Wednesday.

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