A Texas couple is in custody after authorities discovered a dead 8-month-old baby inside their apartment, according to the Odessa Police Department.
Officers from the Odessa Police Department were sent to the Brady Station Apartments located at 4221 E 52nd Street on July 12 around 12:52 p.m. in response to a medical call. An infant inside an apartment was reportedly unresponsive and not breathing, according to dispatch.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
The child’s father, 23-year-old Kameron Gammage, was initially charged with the offense of injury to a child, but the charge was upgraded to capital murder.
The mother, Leyla Pierson, 18, was charged with the offense of injury to a child for allegedly knowing about the injuries but not seeking medical attention.
The child suffered severe swelling and bruising on the left side of his face and head, according to an arrest affidavit from the Odessa Police Department. The victim’s cranium also had several smaller bruises, according to the authorities.
Gammage initially stated that the child’s injuries were caused by hitting his head on a hard area of the crib’s interior.
Later, Gammage said the infant would not stop crying, so he played with the baby by tossing him in the air and catching him. The affidavit stated that after the fourth toss, the father claimed he lost his temper because the infant continued crying and “accidentally” dropped the child.
He also admitted that he has “extreme anger issues” and has been dealing with stress lately. Additionally, he confessed that he recently tried to dispose of the bodies of two dogs he strangled to death to avoid getting into trouble.
Officers reported that the couple’s residence was unkempt inside and had what seemed to be dog feces on the floor. Before the police arrived, the couple admitted to attempting to clean up part of the mess.
The investigation is ongoing.