Couple ‘killed 3-week-old son and used music to drown out his cries for help’

A couple have been accused of killing their three-week-old baby by leaving him strapped into a car seat in a bathtub, then allegedly trying to cover it up by claiming he died in his sleep

An evil couple have been accused of causing the death of their three-week-old baby boy after allegedly leaving him strapped into a car seat inside a bathtub. The couple are then said to be trying to hide the truth by suggesting he passed away in his sleep.

Crystal Garcia, 21, and Anfernee Watts, 25, were reportedly charged eight months after Hollywood Police in Florida, USA, responded to a 911 call and later found the couple’s infant son dead in a playpen, according to the arrest warrant.

Police reportedly say the baby was born on July 11 and was deemed to be in good health at a paediatric appointment on July 28, just days before he died on August 1.

Investigators allege the pair were not truthful about what happened. Court records say they told police that Watts left early that morning for a job interview, then returned home to Garcia, who said the baby was unresponsive and cold to the touch.

This ultimately prompted them to call 911, KPLC, channel 7 reported. However, detectives say that account was fabricated and that Watts never left the property.

Garcia told investigators when she woke up that morning after Watts had left, she “noticed something was off as the child usually cries or makes noise and the baby was not doing either”, NBC Miami reported. She said she touched the baby’s eye to see if he would wake up but noticed he wasn’t moving, NBC Miami further explained.

“You know when you see someone when they passed, like it was like that,” Garcia reportedly told investigators, according to the warrants. Garcia is reportedly alleged to have told officers she wrapped her crying baby in a blanket, held a dummy in his mouth, strapped him into a car seat and put him in the bath.

Prosecutors say she and Watts then slept for nearly seven hours, playing music to muffle the baby’s cries, according to KPLC. The Broward Medical Examiner’s Office in Florida reportedly ruled the baby died from suffocation, and the death was classified as a homicide.

The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested Garcia and Watts on Wednesday (April 8). They appeared in court on Thursday (April 9), where a judge refused to grant them bond, as per KPLC.

Both defendants are facing the same five charges. The charges consequently are obstruction of a criminal investigation; aggravated manslaughter of a child; child neglect with great bodily harm; tampering with evidence; and willfully touching, removing or disturbing a dead body, clothing or surrounding items without authorisation.

The couple also reportedly share a two-year-old daughter.

According to KPLC, the arrest warrant says Watts’ mother has had custody of the child since she was around five months old, after Garcia and the baby tested positive for THC, the primary psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, at birth.

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