Cheyenne, Wyo. — A Cheyenne man faces first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges following the death of a 10-month-old girl in his care, as investigators uncover disturbing evidence linking him to the alleged homicide nearly a year after the incident.
John D. Haney, 41, was arrested on March 20, 2026, after authorities pieced together a timeline involving home surveillance footage, medical records, and deleted video snippets. The child died in March 2025, and the investigation has since revealed signs of potential abuse that now demand accountability in court.
Court documents suggest that Haney was asked to care for the infant after he met her mother at a grocery store. He reported bringing the girl to his home and putting her down for a nap after providing her with a bottle. Haney claimed he briefly left the room to use the bathroom, emerging to find the child unresponsive. Despite his assertion that he performed CPR and called 911 shortly thereafter, investigators found inconsistencies in his account.
First responders, including Deputy Fire Chief Manny Muzquiz, noted that the baby’s extremities felt cold upon their arrival, raising suspicions about Haney’s timeline. An examination revealed multiple fractures in the child’s arm and legs, in various stages of healing, suggesting prior injuries. This evidence, combined with an analysis of Haney’s Ring camera system, led to further scrutiny. Two video clips were deleted shortly before deputies arrived, while a recording captured the sound of a scream from the child shortly before the time Haney alleges he discovered her unresponsive.
The investigation deepened as forensic medical reviews were conducted. Doctors concluded that the child’s skeletal injuries were alarming and consistent with abuse, culminating in an autopsy that attributed her death to asphyxiation, officially ruling it a homicide. Details from the child’s mother also raised alarms; she had reported observed reduced mobility and swelling in her daughter’s limbs leading up to the incident, initially attributing these signs to medication for an ear infection.
Sheriff Brian Kozak commented on the lengthy investigation, which relied heavily on the methodical gathering of evidence and the review of various forensic details. Haney qualified for a preliminary court appearance on March 23, where the district attorney sought a $500,000 bond. However, the judge set the bond at $1 million, citing the severity of the charges. Haney, indicating that he could not afford such a sum, has requested a public defender as he prepares for the next steps in his case.
The nature of the investigation has captivated the local community, largely due to the tragic involvement of an infant and the intertwining of everyday technology with serious crime. Detectives secured warrants to access evidence from the cloud-stored Ring footage and highlighted the complexity involved in tracing the timeline related to deleted videos. Despite Haney’s denial of intentionally deleting the footage, investigators noted that the process would have required several deliberate steps within the app.
As of now, Haney remains incarcerated on a $1 million cash bond, awaiting the preliminary hearing that could determine whether the case will proceed to district court. The developments in this investigation continue to raise critical questions about child safety and accountability, making it a central issue for the Cheyenne community.