BANGOR, ME – The first time a Maine father cared for his infant daughter alone ended in tragedy, and now he faces a charge of murder in her death.
Shawn Samuels, 24, was taken into custody on Jan. 17, a day after authorities responded to an emergency call about his unresponsive 12-week-old daughter, Lyla. Emergency personnel managed to revive the baby before transporting her to a nearby hospital, but her condition continued to deteriorate.
State police reported that detectives were brought in soon after first responders arrived, citing the circumstances surrounding the incident as cause for an immediate investigation. Within 48 hours of her hospitalization, Lyla died on Jan. 18, leading authorities to formally charge Samuels with murder and domestic violence.
Investigators say the deadly incident happened shortly after Lyla’s mother, Leah Collins, returned to work from maternity leave, leaving her daughter in the sole care of Samuels for the first time. According to police interviews outlined in court affidavits, Samuels said he had been feeding Lyla when she suddenly stopped breathing. He reported that after burping her, she started breathing again, but never regained consciousness.
Family members placed the 911 call that summoned help for Lyla, reportedly telling dispatchers it was the father’s first time alone with the infant. When questioned later by police, Samuels denied dropping, shaking, or purposefully harming the baby. He did acknowledge to detectives, however, that he had bounced Lyla on his knee and swung her from side to side in his arms during the time he was responsible for her care.
Police pressed Samuels about the possibility of injuring his daughter by bouncing her. According to law enforcement records, he admitted the movement could have caused harm.
A subsequent autopsy revealed severe injuries, including four fractured ribs, retinal hemorrhages, and brain swelling and bleeding. While the precise cause of death was not disclosed by officials, the state medical examiner classified the case as a homicide, noting that Lyla’s brain injuries were consistent with trauma resulting from rapid shaking or sudden movement.
Samuels faced initial charges of elevated aggravated assault and violating bail conditions, both lodged after Lyla’s hospitalization. Those charges escalated to murder following her death. He remains held in the Penobscot County Jail, with his bail set at $250,000, as he awaits his next court appearance, scheduled for Feb. 13.
Meanwhile, relatives of Lyla’s mother have established an online fundraising campaign to help cover funeral and related costs. The family mourns the loss as the legal process moves forward, with authorities continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.
No additional details on the ongoing investigation have been released by police.