Montco Man Shook 6-Week-Old Daughter To Death: DA

Norristown PA

27 May, 2021

10:05 AM

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WEST NORRITON, PA — A Montgomery County man is behind bars after authorities determined he shook his infant daughter to death, the District Attorney's Office said Thursday. Craig Baylis, 31, of West Norriton, faces third-degree murder charges and related counts in connection with the death of his 6-week-old daughter, Mackenna Baylis. The incident occurred back on Feb. 22. According to the District Attorney, Mackenna's mother just before 10 a.m. to go to a doctor's appointment, leaving the baby in Baylis' care inside their West Norriton home. Baylis called the mother around two hours later saying that the baby had fallen and her nose was bleeding, but that "she was fine," police said. However, an autopsy and brain examination performed later showed that the injuries were caused by "vigorous movement of the head while relatively fixed in relation to the neck," officials said. The coroner's report listed Mackenna's cause of death as homicide. Mackenna's mother returned home at around noon to find the baby gray and lifeless, police said. She called 911 and started performing CPR until Plymouth Ambulance arrived and took the baby to the hospital. Mackenna was pronounced dead at 12:55 p.m. No bail was made available, and Baylis was booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is set for June 7.