Man slams 4-month-old baby’s head against elevator wall with ‘significant force,’ killing her: Police

An Utah man, 28-year-old Zachary Jarred Walton, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse after allegedly killing a 4-month-old girl he was babysitting by slamming her head against an elevator wall, authorities said.

The incident occurred on Aug. 25 at the Road Home Shelter in Midvale, according to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.

The baby, identified as S.S. in court documents, had been left in Walton’s care by her mother, who went to work. Walton, a family friend and fellow resident of the shelter, had watched the baby before.

Walton told detectives that the baby was mostly asleep during the day but woke up later and wouldn’t stop crying. In an attempt to calm her, he took her to the roof for fresh air, but she continued to scream. Walton reportedly grew increasingly “frustrated,” describing his frustration level as an 8 out of 10.

When asked about the incident in the elevator, Walton initially claimed nothing happened, but he later admitted to “accidentally” bumping the baby’s head twice on the corner of the elevator wall near the buttons.

He told detectives that the baby stopped breathing afterward, and he attempted to perform life-saving measures for five minutes before seeking help.

However, further questioning revealed more disturbing details. Walton confessed to using “significant force” to slam the baby’s head against the elevator wall with his upper body weight. After the baby stopped crying and looked at him, Walton realized what he had done, according to the affidavit.

Waston was captured on the surveillance footage from the shelter’s roof carrying the “limp” infant around for 17 minutes, attempting to revive her by blowing into her face. He eventually went downstairs and someone called 911.

Doctors at the hospital found the baby had multiple skull fractures and brain bleeding. They also discovered healing rib fractures, which appeared to be 2 to 3 weeks old. Walton blamed these injuries on hugging the baby too tightly because he was excited to see her.

The baby was taken off life support on August 25 and died.

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Walton remains at the Salt Lake County Jail without bond.

District Attorney Sim Gill urged caregivers to seek help when needed, calling the infant’s death a “tragedy that could have been avoided” and vowing to seek justice for the young child and her family.