Man admits to hitting, killing baby
| Thursday, Nov 19 2009 05:00 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 19 2009 05:00 PM
A 23-year-old Ridgecrest man who was arrested on charges of murdering a baby admitted hitting the 6-month-old infant in the head, according to an interview by KBAK-TV.
Roman Rey Brand said he had a hard time sleeping and he became annoyed by the crying of Ayonna Thompson early Wednesday morning, the television reported.
Brand said he hit the child on the left side of her head and then noticed later that she stopped breathing.
He tried to do CPR, but the baby didn't get better. An ambulance was called and the baby died at 5:51 a.m. at Mercy Southwest Hospital. The coroner said the baby died from blunt force trauma to her head.
Brand told the television interviewer that he regretted the incident. He said the baby's mother was hysterical when she found out.
Brand has prior convictions for spousal abuse and possession of marijuana in 2007, and possession of controlled substances in 2006, court records say.
He and the baby's mother live in Ridgecrest. They were in Bakersfield visiting a relative.
Brand was arrested Wednesday by Bakersfield police. He remained in jail Thursday in lieu of posting $1 million bail. He'll be arraigned Friday.
