BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — A Bella Vista teenager accused of murder in the death of his four-month-old son has pleaded not guilty, according to Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Josh Robinson.
Bryce Alijha Anderson, 17, is accused of first-degree domestic battery and first-degree murder.
An affidavit of probable cause filed on April 12 in Benton County says that officers were made aware of a four-month-old baby who was unconscious and not breathing on March 4 and was being cared for by his father, Anderson.
The baby was transported to a nearby hospital and Anderson was interviewed by police. He told police that he placed the baby on the bed and prepared a bottle. Once the baby had completed about 75% of the bottle, his eyes closed and his body became limp, court documents said.
The affidavit said Anderson told police that he assumed the baby had fallen asleep. Shortly after, he began to "freak out" and contacted his girlfriend and mother, who didn't answer. He then contacted 911.
During the police interview, medics informed Anderson and investigators that the baby had stabilized and would be taken by helicopter to either Little Rock or Kansas City. Anderson then told police that while lying on the bed, the child vomited and there was a small amount of blood, according to court documents.
The court filing says nurses informed investigators that there were no obvious signs of abuse, and it was determined that this incident was a cardiac event.
Later that day a social worker from a hospital in Kansas City called the police and informed them that the child had a brain bleed, the affidavit said. The social worker called again later that day to advise that the cause of injury was dubbed a "non-accidental trauma" and believed to be a result of the child being shaken.
On March 6, investigators traveled to Kansas City and made contact with social workers. Family members were interviewed and all explained that Anderson was the only one with the baby for most of the day on March 4. Medical staff at the hospital corroborated that the cause of injury was trauma consistent with shaken baby syndrome, according to the court filing.
The baby died on April 7 from the injuries he sustained, court documents said.
"Based on evidence gathered in this case, witness statements, and the analyses offered by medical professionals, Bryce was the only person with access to the child at the time of the injuries. Bryce himself stated that he was alone with the child for the duration of time in which the window for injuries occurred," the affidavit said.
Anderson is being held on a $500,000 bond. He is ordered to appear in court in August.
April report:
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