A Utah man has been taken into custody for reportedly causing harm to a baby inside an elevator while her mother was away, as per various reports.
Several news outlets, such as Fox affiliate KSTU, have reported that a man named Zachary Walton, aged 28, was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 25. The arrest took place after an investigation at the Midvale Road Home, a local shelter, in Utah.
The Unified Police Department responded to the scene shortly before 8 p.m. local time, where they found a 4-month-old infant who was not breathing. Life-saving measures were immediately initiated, including CPR, and the child was promptly transported to a nearby hospital, according to KTVX.
According to a booking affidavit cited by KSL, the child’s condition is critical and there is a significant risk of fatality for the 4-month-old victim. According to the outlet, her condition has not shown any signs of improvement and her brain activity is extremely low.
As reported by KSL, the child resides with her mother at the shelter, and Walton apparently looked after her while the mom was working a DoorDash shift on Aug. 25. According to the affidavit, the outlet stated that Walton became extremely frustrated when the infant would not stop crying.
According to the arrest warrant, Walton reportedly took the child to the roof to vape and “destress.” However, it is alleged that he caused harm to the infant by forcefully hitting their head against the metal corner of the elevator where it curves towards the sliding doors. As reported by KSL, the police documents indicate that he allegedly repeated the action with a notable amount of force.
According to the police affidavit, the child’s heart had stopped and she was no longer breathing when Walton reached the roof with her, as reported by KSL. According to the police, the man was captured on surveillance video holding the 4-month-old victim on the roof for about 17 minutes, attempting to revive her. According to KSTU, Walton eventually contacted the girl’s mother and was advised by a roommate to dial 911.
According to KSL, the Unified Police Department reported that the child sustained two skull fractures and a “significant” brain bleed.
The department did not promptly address PEOPLE’s inquiry for additional details on Saturday, Aug. 31.
According to KTVX, Walton has been taken into custody and is now being held at the Salt Lake County Jail. He is facing charges of intentional aggravated child abuse and attempted murder, both of which are second-degree felonies.
According to the inmate database of the Salt Lake County Jail, the individual in question was booked on August 25. As of August 31, the charges listed against him include “murder” and “aggravated child abuse — intentionally or knowingly.”
It is uncertain whether Walton has legal representation available to provide comments on his behalf.
