Inset: Rick P. Artis (Bexar County Adult Detention Center). Background: The area in San Antonio where Artis allegedly killed an infant (Google Maps).
A 31-year-old man in Texas, Rick P. Artis, is facing allegations of fatally beating a 9-month-old girl earlier this year. Artis reportedly provided a false identity to law enforcement due to an outstanding warrant linked to a previous case involving another child’s violent death. Court documents indicate that he has been charged with one count of injury to a child with intent to cause serious harm.
According to local ABC affiliate KSAT, San Antonio Police and emergency responders were dispatched to an apartment complex on Ingram Road at approximately 10:43 a.m. on January 25. They arrived to find a baby unresponsive and subsequently declared the child deceased on-site.
At the scene, Artis allegedly identified himself to detectives as “Eric Artis.” He recounted that he awoke around 10 a.m., went to the kitchen to prepare formula, and discovered the baby was not breathing in her crib. Artis reportedly panicked and alerted the baby’s mother. He claimed the child appeared healthy and unharmed the night before, as stated in the report.
Per local NBC and CW affiliate WOAI, the mother informed police that she had left Artis to care for her three children the night before. Upon her return just before midnight, she observed the baby smiling and standing in her crib, appearing “fine.” After showering, she found the child asleep. She and Artis retired to bed around 3 a.m., according to the report.
The next morning, Artis reportedly woke the mother in a state of panic, leading her to discover the baby “cold and stiff.”
Initial investigations showed no evidence of abuse. However, an autopsy conducted two days later revealed the baby had suffered a severe skull fracture from blunt force trauma, which was not accidental. The medical examiner classified the death as a homicide.
The mother and Artis returned to police headquarters on Jan. 29 to answer additional questions. Prior to the meeting, investigators reportedly discovered that Artis had initially provided police with a false name. Investigators soon discovered Rick Artis had an outstanding arrest warrant in connection with an October 2018 case in which he was also charged with injury to a child.
In that case, a 17-month-old child had similarly suffered a fractured skull. The child reportedly died as a result of the injury in 2020. Artis is accused of striking the child, causing the fatal injuries, KSAT reported. That case was reportedly dismissed due to a missing witness, then subsequently reopened several months later. Artis is facing a separate charge for injury to a child in that case as well.
When confronted about the false name and outstanding warrant, Artis reportedly refused to speak any further without an attorney present. He was subsequently arrested and booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center.
Police later learned that on Jan. 25, Artis had called and exchanged messages with a paralegal about 30 minutes before he claimed to have found the infant unresponsive. He also allegedly exchanged messages with another friend about the infant’s death prior to alerting the victim’s mother and calling 911.
He is currently being held on a $1 million bond, records show.
