SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The parents of a 1-year-old have been arrested following the boy's death in Scottsdale earlier this week.
Shaniah Darlene Harris and Braydon Jesus Pena, both 25, are facing counts of child abuse and negligent, according to court documents.
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Investigators believe the child was left unattended for several hours as the parents slept throughout the day.
An investigation into the child's death began on March 24 after Harris called 911 and told the dispatcher her son was not breathing. Pena told the dispatcher he would not be attempting life-saving measures on the child, documents said.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Un bebé murió después de haber sido dejado solo durante horas en Scottsdale. Los padres fueron arrestados
When police arrived, they found the baby dead in a playpen in a bedroom in the home shared by the couple. He was lying on his back and was declared dead on the scene.
“It should be noted that the apartment was in a general state of disarray and unclean and it was obvious the victim had not been bathed for some time. Scabbing could also be seen on the victims' face, chin and leg, and it is unknown where this is from,” documents said.
Investigators believed the boy had been dead for several hours and could have possibly been moved or repositioned. "The rigor and lividity were also noted to be inconsistent with how the baby was positioned at the time of officer's arrival," documents said.
When interviewed, the parents told investigators that the baby had been put to bed sometime between 10:30 p.m. on March 23 and 2 a.m. on March 24, and then not checked on again until after 6 p.m. on March 24 with the call to 911 being made a short time later.
During an interview with police, it was revealed that the child was not checked on by either parent even when Pena left the home at around 10 a.m. on March 25 to buy breakfast at Burger King for himself and Harris. The two ate breakfast and then went back to sleep until around 6 p.m., documents said.
The parents also told investigators that they did not use any kind of baby monitor or camera to keep a check on the baby.
According to documents, while being interviewed by police, it was noted that Harris tried to stay close to Pena and when they were separated yelled at him that they needed an attorney.
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