Celia Colby (Larkin Funeral Home).
A Utah father has been accused in the death of his 6-month-old daughter after authorities say the baby was found in a “dirty” basement contaminated with human and animal waste, with investigators alleging he showed “no remorse” following her death.
C Neal Colby, 32, is facing allegations of reckless child abuse homicide and child endangerment resulting in the death of his infant daughter, Celia Colby.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, police in Murray, a Salt Lake City suburb, were called to a home shortly before 10 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2025, after an infant was reported to be in “full arrest.” Celia died while being transported to the hospital.
In the 17 months since, investigators have worked to determine what happened to the baby, remembered for her “energized spirit,” who died one day before turning 7 months old.
Several central questions remain unresolved, including Celia’s official cause and manner of death. The affidavit says a medical examiner documented bruising on the baby’s nose, right cheek and around her chin. Those marks, the examiner noted, could indicate “the possibility of airway obstruction by external forces.”
A board-certified child abuse pediatrician who reviewed the case also raised “substantial concerns” about the circumstances leading up to Celia’s death, telling investigators that the bruising on the infant’s nose could be significant.
“This pattern of injury can be seen when a caregiver pinches the nose shut, causing injury to the skin. An asphyxia death may not be identifiable at autopsy,” she told police. “It cannot be ruled out that her airway was manually obstructed by an adult.”
Colby’s living circumstances were unique. Although he was separated from Celia’s mother, they were still living in the same house. The mother and baby lived upstairs while Colby lived in the basement.
In the hours leading up to Celia’s death, her mother put the baby, who had a mild fever, in Colby’s custody. Colby told cops that he was sleeping in the same bed as his daughter and briefly woke her up when he rolled over. He said he left the baby on his bed and went upstairs to watch videos on his phone. Colby said he would check on the girl hourly until he found her unresponsive.
The father yelled for the girl’s mother for help. She told cops “God, she was so stiff.” The mother said she began performing CPR and asked Colby to call 911, but he refused, the affidavit stated. She ended up calling 911.
First responding officers described Celia as looking “gray.” They also described the basement as “very dirty with a lot of garbage and property around the room.” There was human waste and animal waste in the cat litter boxes along with THC wax that was near baby food, cops said.
“This type of environment could have contributed to her death, but even if it did not, from a pediatric perspective, this environment would be considered unhealthy and dangerous for a child who is developing mobility to be in, even if supervised,” the child abuse pediatrician said.
Colby claimed his daughter may have suffocated when she pulled her blanket over her face, but doctors found that to be unlikely.
The defendant also was found to be untruthful in his version of events that night, cops said. He claimed he was “too sick” to leave the house, per the affidavit.
But his phone — which Colby claimed to have misplaced only for cops to discover it between couch cushions — showed he allegedly left the girl alone for about 45 minutes. He went to a “known drug area” until he returned, cops allege.
Investigators also noted Colby’s demeanor after his daughter’s death.
“Body cam footage from responding officers shows that the Defendant shows no remorse and is vaping when officers are not looking at him,” cops wrote. “When officers make direct eye contact and speak with the Defendant, he immediately begins wailing and howling, stating he doesn’t know what happened.”
Meanwhile, Celia’s mother spent that time yelling that Colby was “responsible” for her death.
Officers arrested Colby on Thursday and took him to the Salt Lake County Jail where he remains without bond. His next court date is not yet listed.
“Celia’s favorite place to be was outdoors, on Mommy’s or Daddy’s laps, in the stroller, on a blanket in the sunny shade, where the wind was tickling the leaves overhead and the birds were singing!” her obituary said. “Celia was fully engaged, with a deep connection to Nature. She had no concern nor fear of being caught outdoors once in a thundering rainstorm! Celia was illuminated and beautifully blessed by the rain.”
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