Background: The neighborhood in Grimes, Iowa, where police were dispatched on August 7 (Google Maps). Inset: Dylan James Brown (Polk County Sheriff’s Office).
An Iowa man who was in jail for allegedly beating his 2-month-old baby daughter may face new charges after she died of her injuries.
Dylan James Brown, 23, encountered arrest on August 7 after deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to an emergency at his residence, where reports indicated that a 2-month-old infant was unresponsive. According to documents reviewed by Law&Crime, the infant had sustained a brain hemorrhage and fractures due to Brown allegedly striking her over 40 times “using maximum force.” After being admitted to the hospital, she suffered a stroke and was placed on life support.
On Tuesday, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced that the baby was dead.
Aside from the alleged attack on the infant, Brown was also accused of strangling the child’s mother to the point of unconsciousness during the same night of the alleged incident with their child. As outlined in the criminal complaint, the mother was allegedly awoken by the sounds of Brown “hitting the baby.” She tried to intervene but reported that Brown then “turned on her,” allegedly striking her in the head and forcing her to flee the baby’s room.
Brown then allegedly strangled her from behind in a “bear hug” position until she lost consciousness.
Brown was taken into custody on August 7, facing charges of child endangerment, domestic abuse assault by impeding breathing or circulation, and two counts of willful injury resulting in serious harm. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office noted in a press statement that it is collaborating with the Polk County Attorney’s Office to explore additional charges against Brown now that the infant has passed away.
Brown, who has been in custody at the Polk County Jail since Aug. 7, remains behind bars on $250,000 bail.
