A New Mexico mother and father are behind bars for fatally abusing their 1-year-old baby boy, police say.

Onesimus Skywater, 33, and Donna Phillips, 22, each stand accused of child abuse resulting in death, according to Curry County jail records.

Following an extensive investigation into the child’s death, both suspects were apprehended and charged on Wednesday, as reported by the Clovis Police Department in a press release.

In November 2024, Calian Skywater was transported to the Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis—a medium-sized city situated roughly 9 miles west of the New Mexico-Texas border. The child was ultimately declared dead at the hospital, prompting detectives to become involved.

Investigators immediately noted the presence of “extensive” bruising on Calian’s face, head, and arms, according to police.

Phillips allegedly explained her son’s bruises by claiming the child had engaged in “rough play with a sibling” and had also fallen from a high chair, as stated in the press release.

During the initial investigation into the boy’s death, police provided additional details about the alleged explanation offered by his mom.

The initial press release issued in December 2023 read: “Calian had bruising to his forehead and face. When questioned about the injuries, the mother explained that Calian had fallen three days prior, resulting in these injuries. She told responding officers that Calian had been examined by his pediatric physician for the injuries.”

The 9th Judicial Major Crimes Unit was later assigned to investigate the 12-month-old’s death.

But an initial autopsy by the state’s Office of the Medical Investigator suggested more than playing or falling was to blame, police claim.

The pathologist informed investigators that Calian had bruising covering 70%-80% of his body and also indicated further trauma had been inflicted on the child’s head, according to the police department.

And, those injuries were likely caused in a relatively short time span.

Calian and his siblings were taken into custody by the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Division around the time of Calian’s birth and placed in foster care, police stated. The children were only returned to Phillips in October 2024, just weeks before the boy passed away.

In April, the victim’s final autopsy returned an “undetermined” cause of death but showed the boy suffered from “major blunt trauma” to his head as well as other physical injuries, police said.

On Sept. 8, law enforcement received the results of a review by a doctor who specializes in child abuse pediatrics. That report apparently did not bode well for Calian’s parents.

“Calian Skywater’s body showed multiple injuries that did not correspond with the statements provided by his parents,” the latest press release reads — before citing the specialist’s review. The doctor wrote: “totality of the findings present are diagnostic of fatal physical abuse inflicted upon Calian.”

Both defendants are currently being detained in the Curry County Detention Center without bond, jail records show.

The couple’s other children are now in the custody of a foster family, police said.