A Michigan man has pleaded no contest in connection with the death of his 6-month-old daughter, removing a first-degree murder charge from the table.
According to court documents reviewed by Law&Crime, Alex Lewis Marsh pleaded no contest earlier this month to second-degree murder, at the 42nd Circuit Court of Midland County.
Court documents indicate that police were dispatched to Marsh’s Midland home on May 18, 2022, concerning an unresponsive infant. Officers noted that the child was deceased upon their arrival and had a “bloody discharge” around her body and inside her crib, Midland Daily News reports.
“EMS pronounced Scarlett deceased on scene and estimated Scarlett to have been deceased for ‘a while. EMS also noted that there was blood in the baby crib that appeared unusual,” an affidavit read.
“Scarlett was found deceased laying on her back in the bedroom. Dried red blood like liquid could be seen inside of the baby crib and under Scarlett’s nostrils.”
Midland County Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks said last year that Scarlett died by asphyxiation while under the defendant’s care. The child’s mother was working at the time.
Marsh initially claimed that he rocked the baby to sleep and checked on her around an hour later and she was fine. He said he later left home to pick Scarlett’s mother up from work at around 6 a.m., but left the baby at home alone and didn’t check in on her before he left.
“Alex advised upon arrival back to the apartment with [the baby’s mother], they found Scarlett to be in the crib deceased,” the affidavit read.
Although the autopsy didn’t find external injuries on the victim, a subsequent autopsy found “fixed lividity on the right side of [Scarlett’s] body (face and side) and on her back,” and blood in her chest cavity.
“Alex then admitted Scarlett was crying and that he threw a large gray blanket (adult sized/ heavy blanket ) over top of Scarlett in her crib” and over Scarlett’s “entire body,” the affidavit continued.
Midland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Atea Duso said last year that Marsh had been playing video games and became upset when the baby interrupted him.
“He didn’t like to use the baby monitor, it annoyed him. He wanted to play video games,” Duso said.
A sentencing date is pending. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Alex Marsh/Police Handout]
