A New Mexico couple was arrested this week and charged in the death of their 1-year-old son last year.
The Clovis Police Department reported that Calian Skywater was brought to Plains Regional Medical Center on November 27, where he was declared deceased. Detectives arrived at the hospital and observed that the child had “extensive bruises” on his head, face, and arms.
The boy’s mother, 22-year-old Donna Phillips, “stated that Calian’s injuries resulted from rough play with a sibling, and a fall from a high chair.”
An autopsy later revealed that the boy had bruising covering 70 to 80 percent of his body and severe head trauma. A final report issued in April indicated “major blunt force trauma” to the head, but the cause of death was listed as “undetermined.”
Detectives consulted a doctor specializing in child abuse pediatrics, and a report from this doctor, received on September 8, indicated that the boy’s injuries “did not correspond with the statements provided by his parents.”
“The doctor communicated that their ‘totality of the findings present are diagnostic of fatal physical abuse inflicted upon Calian,’” police said.
Police obtained a warrant for the arrest of Phillips and Onesimus Skywater, 33, charging them with intentional child abuse resulting in the child’s death. They are currently held without bond at the Curry County Detention Center, according to jail records.
Their other children have been placed with a foster family.
