An Augusta County man has been charged with murder in the May 20 death of his infant child.
Blake Matthew Clark, 25, of Verona, was arrested on May 20, originally on a felony child abuse and neglect charge, according to information from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
The charge was upgraded to murder on Sunday.
Clark is in custody at Middle River Regional Jail.
The incident leading to the death of the infant dates to May 17, with a 911 call reporting an unresponsive, non-breathing infant at a residence on Meade Park Circle in Verona.
Emergency medical personnel from the Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad and Augusta County Fire and Rescue initiated life-saving measures, and the infant was successfully resuscitated before being transported to Augusta Health. The infant was subsequently airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center.
A joint investigation involving medical personnel, law enforcement and Child Protective Services determined that the infant had sustained life-threatening injuries consistent with physical harm.
Investigators learned that the infant was in the care of Clark, the father, at the time the injuries occurred.
On May 20, the infant was taken off life support and was pronounced deceased at UVA Medical Center.
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Chris Graham
