John Haney (Laramie County Sheriff’s Office).
A motion-activated surveillance camera inside a Wyoming residence recorded a chilling moment when a 10-month-old girl let out a “scream” after a dog strolled past. This occurred just half an hour before she was tragically discovered with a broken arm and legs, law enforcement officials report. A man involved with the child’s mother is facing accusations of her murder.
John D. Haney, aged 41, faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse linked to the infant’s demise, as stated by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities apprehended Haney in Cheyenne last Friday for the homicide that took place in March 2025. An arrest affidavit, accessed by local news outlet Cap City News, details the charges against him, alongside information from police regarding the home security footage.
The affidavit reveals that Haney was seen on video standing in a bathroom doorway moments before the camera abruptly went offline. Notably, there is no recorded footage showing him exiting the bathroom, according to the document.
On that day, Haney reportedly dialed 911, claiming he discovered his girlfriend’s daughter unresponsive and cold in a bedroom. Approximately 30 minutes before this emergency call, the home’s security system was triggered by a dog’s movement, accompanied by what is believed to be the child’s scream, as noted in the affidavit.
Emergency responders quickly arrived and rushed the child to a hospital, where she was declared deceased. Authorities report the girl sustained fractures to one arm and both her legs, as reported by Cap City News.
The child’s cause of death was listed as asphyxiation and the manner of death was listed as “homicide.” While the broken bones did not lead to her death, doctors allegedly told detectives that they were “highly concerning” and suggested that she was abused, the affidavit says.
Haney was interviewed about what happened and he allegedly told investigators that his girlfriend’s daughter was acting fussy and he laid her down for a nap, according to police. He allegedly claimed that he went to the bathroom and was in there for 10 minutes before coming out to find her not breathing.
Police arrested Haney after reviewing the security footage and probing the child’s death over a span of several months. He is being held on a $1 million cash bond and will appear in court for a probable cause hearing within 10 days if he does not bond out, Cap City News reports.
