[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Eunyoung Choi] A father in the United States who beat and sexually assaulted his 10-month-old daughter to death has been arrested.
According to foreign media on the 8th (local time), Pennsylvania police arrested Austin Stevens (29), the baby's father, in connection with the infant sexual assault case.
According to the police, Stevens is accused of sexually assaulting his 10-month-old biological daughter at his home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on the night of the 3rd.
After the assault, he reported to the police, saying, "I left the child in the bathtub and stepped away for a moment when I heard a 'thud' sound. When I checked afterward, the baby was not breathing." The police who responded to the report immediately transported the child to the hospital, but it is known that the baby died in less than two hours.
The police stated in the investigation results, "After performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the baby was moved to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead."
The autopsy revealed that the baby had severe injuries to the head, anus, and rectum, and signs of sexual assault were also confirmed. The police found a blood-soaked diaper, presumed to be worn by the baby at the time, at Stevens' home.
Suspecting Stevens, the baby's father, the police obtained a search warrant and investigated him. Analysis of his mobile phone usage revealed that he searched the internet for about an hour before reporting the incident, looking up information related to the baby's death.
He repeatedly searched for terms related to the crime, such as "baby not breathing," "how to check if a baby is dead," "when a baby stops breathing," and "what to do if a baby's pulse is not detected," while simultaneously exchanging messages with two women he met through chat.
He claimed that he was in a panic because the baby was not breathing and searched for such information, but based on the crime scene and autopsy results, the police charged him with child sexual assault, aggravated assault, and Involuntary Deviant Sexual Intercourse (IDSI).
IDSI refers to abnormal forms of sexual assault committed against minors, disabled persons, intoxicated individuals, or others who have difficulty expressing refusal or discerning the situation, beyond typical rape or sexual molestation charges.
Stevens was a co-owner of a construction company and an assistant coach of a soccer team. It was revealed that he shared custody of his daughter with his ex-wife after their divorce. The day of the crime was the day the baby was supposed to stay at his house, and the baby's maternal grandparents personally put their granddaughter in the car to send her.
The maternal grandparents expressed their grief, saying, "We never dreamed we would never see our granddaughter again. We never thought the father would do such a thing to his daughter." The baby's mother, Erika Scrux, also expressed her devastation through her social media, stating, "I am not okay at all, I have no words. He will pay the price."
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania imposes a maximum sentence of 20 years for IDSI charges. However, in cases involving crimes against children, the sentence can be increased up to 40 years, and if serious physical injury occurs, life imprisonment can be imposed.
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