Case dropped against Detroit father accused of killing baby

Detroit Free Press - 6/29/2017

June 29--All charges were dropped today against a 22-year-old man accused of murdering and sexually assaulting his 8-month-old daughter in a case his attorney called "everybody's worst nightmare."

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release they moved to dismiss charges of felony murder, first-degree child abuse and first-degree criminal sexual conduct against James Saltmarshall "in the best interests of justice."

The Detroit man had been charged in connection with the April death of his daughter, Janiyah Saltmarshall.

Initially prosecutors accused the father of killing his child by causing trauma to her head and said rectal tearing was observed on her. A medical examiner later determined the baby died of asphyxia and ruled the death an accident, officials said today.

"There was nothing consistent with rape," Saltmarshall's attorney, Lillian Diallo told the Free Press of the medical examiner's report.

She said the case should have been investigated more at the beginning and charges "should have never happened."

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Diallo said her client needs therapy, wasn't allowed to go to his daughter's funeral and lost his job after he was released from jail.

"He is truly, truly traumatized," she said. "He was a young man taking care of his child, and they demonized him for it."

Saltmarshall was alone with the infant at an Inkster hotel in the 2600 block of Michigan Avenue after the child's mother went to work on April 20. Later that day, he called 911 and the unresponsive baby was taken to the hospital. She died three days later.

A day after Saltmarshall was arraigned on the felony charges in April, prosecutors requested a personal bond and GPS tether for him because of the ongoing investigation and need for more forensic testing.

Prosecutors said in the news release today that Saltmarshall and his daughter were sleeping on a bed adjacent to each and when he woke, Saltmarshall found the child unresponsive.

A spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office could not be immediately reached for comment, so it's unclear why charges were issued before a medical examiner determined the baby's cause and manner of death.

Inkster police investigated the incident. Messages left with department officials have not been returned today.

In April, Inkster police said there were inconsistencies in what Saltmarshall told police.

Initially, Saltmarshall said he was sleeping on a bed with his daughter, got up to use the restroom and when he returned a short time later, the child wasn't breathing, Lt. Jeffery Smith said at the time. In another statement, Saltmarshall said the baby fell off the bed and he shook her when he discovered she wasn't breathing, he said.

Police said Saltmarshall denied any knowledge of criminal sexual conduct.

Contact Elisha Anderson: eanderson@freepress.com or 313-222-5144. Follow on Twitter: @elishaanderson

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