WEST READING, Pa. — In a disturbing incident in Pennsylvania, two parents face charges over the death of their newborn child.
The tragic event unfolded within the confines of a hospital room.
According to police reports, Kevin Canaan, 28, and Yeniffer Tavarez-Cepeda, 25, subjected their day-old baby to physical abuse at the Tower Health Reading Hospital.
Authorities responded to the hospital on May 2 after staff discovered that the seemingly healthy newborn was suddenly in critical condition within a private recovery room.
In an attempt to save the infant, he was airlifted to Penn State Hershey Medical Center for specialized neonatal treatment, but unfortunately, he did not survive.
Medical experts at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center informed investigators that the injuries sustained by the infant were indicative of physical abuse and were unrelated to the delivery process.
An investigation found the child was under the supervision of his parents in the maternity room when the injuries were inflicted, and that they did not alert hospital staff.
An autopsy revealed that the victim had suffered a multitude of internal injuries, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Police took Canaan and Tavarez-Cepeda into custody on Tuesday to face charges of Criminal Homicide, Aggravated Assault, and Endangering the Welfare of Children.
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