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A 19-year-old New Jersey man will appear in court Monday after being charged with shaking his girlfriend's baby to death, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
Daquan Davis is charged with manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.
Police say Davis was caring for the 6-month-old infant Friday morning at School House Apartments on North Martin Luther King Boulevard in Atlantic City, N.J., while the child’s mother was at work.
Police say when she returned home around 4 a.m., she found her son unresponsive and called police. The baby was pronounced dead. Investigators believe Davis shook the baby, causing his death.
In an NBC10 exclusive interview, the child’s mother, Ebony Stewart, described the horrific discovery she made when she returned home.
“I noticed my son wasn’t breathing. I looked closer and he wasn’t breathing. His face was purple and frozen cold.”
Stewart said Davis acted as if nothing had happened.
“He sat there saying, 'Everything will be alright …We’re in this together … I know you’re hurting. I am here for you,'" Stewart said.
One of the woman's neighbors appeared rattled by the news: "I live in this building, and that same little baby, just two weeks ago, I told the mom how cute the baby was. And just to hear this, right now, I don't know what to think, I really don't,” Lloyd Phillips told NBC's Atlantic City affiliate.
Davis is currently being held on $750,000 bail.
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Psyc. eval., blood screen, family history, blah-blah-blah..... He will have to check-in once convicted. Baby killer get special treatment.
Males of many species are notorious for killing the children of a rival male.
Or his own.
@journal, so unfortunately correct. So many mothers go off to work and leave their children with an unemployed boyfriend to babysit, who is not the father of any of them. There's no connection at all between the men and the kids. Dangerous mix from the beginning and have seen many such tragedies and non-fatal tragedies working w/child protection. A total nightmare.
When I was 22, I babysat my friends' twins. This was in 1984, and back then, you did not read about shaken baby syndrome. I am sure it happened back then too, but you never heard about it. Anyway, the twins cried, and I became very frustrated (despite being very mature and rational even), but unlike the cases you read about, I left the apartment (the babies were fine, and safe in their crib), and walked out on the balcony to calm down and clear my head.
When I read these stories, I often think that if I had not done what I did, I could have been a killer too, so I urge anyone, who has these feelings to just leave the room...the babies will be fine just crying. Also, if you leave your children with anyone younger, especially a male, give them these instructions, and tell them to just leave the area for 5-10 minutes if they become frustrated. By saying it aloud, you may save your child's life.
After all these years, I just saw pictures of the twins on Facebook, and they are beautiful married women now. In my own life, I had a daughter at age 42, and never once felt that kind of frustration...I guess age mellows you out some.
Kevin C, thank you so much for that comment. Just put the baby in a safe place, preferably the crib, and WALK AWAY! S/he will be fine. The frustration of a crying baby can be overwhelming and the desire to make it stop is instinctual. Sometimes there's just nothing you can do and the very best thing is to just leave and clear your head.
Honestly, it's probably for the best that this baby passed away. The lifelong repercussions to shaking a baby are horrific!
When we did pre-registration in June for the baby we had in July of this year, they made us watch a video about "Purple crying". It's the phase babies go through where they can cry non-stop, for no reason at all. You know they've been fed, burped, have a clean diaper, etc. They warned that these situations can be just crazy frustrating and that is what leads to parents doing stupid things.
They taught that the only acceptable reaction from the parent is to set them in their crib and leave the room to calm down - the baby will be fine. I can't count the number of times I've had to do that. It was nice to hear in advance that the crying is a normal phase.
I have no doubt that a 19 year old had no idea how to react to such a frustrating situation. I don't condone what he did, but have been in situations with our baby where I can understand how the frustration could build to that level. It's just knowing how to react. He made a poor decision and will pay dearly for it.
This is why I think our species needs to understand that we are still animals, and will never be able to escape our instincts. People mix people with other people without considering our animalistic tendencies, and bad things happen. I'm not blaming anyone (besides the boyfriend, of course) or justifying anything, but it's a situation of which we should all be aware.
He's 19. He'll go to big boy prison! Probably won't last long either. Most in prison don't take to well to child killers and pedophiles. He deserves whatever they dish out.
studies have shown that non-related fathers/boyfriends increase the risk of child abuse/murder 100s of times! (How Children Develop, Text)
Women, think long and hard about who you trust.
Yes, most babies will have spells of crying without any detectable reason. They may simply be overtired or their crying just got out of control and they can't settle themselves down. But take that extra step of checking to see if they may have a fever or earache or are too hot or their clothes are pinching them.
Once you've gone through the list of possibilities, it may help to turn on soft music and leave the room. Or turn on a child's book on tape/CD with a soothing voice. Put them in their swing or take them on a drive or stroll. Make sure you have a host of "tricks" to calm your baby and that anyone caring for them knows all these tips too. And do everything you can to avoid leaving your baby with a young man who isn't the baby's father or has a temper.
Never, ever, use physical or verbal punishment on a baby; they won't understand it, will just cry more, and cannot control their behavior anyway. There are probably resources in your community to help you if you're overwhelmed.
@RaeBrownlee, thank you. To be honest, I was hesitant to share that story because I am partially embarrassed that I could ever have felt like I was close to shaking a baby. I am a very rational, and controlled person, and yet, it still happened to me when I was younger. I chose to share that because I believe that if you think NOW about walking away for a few minutes (after securing the child), you will remember to do it LATER when you are not thinking as clearly. In other words, it is training your behavior, and that of your babysitter if you say it to them too.
Again, I never felt that frustration with my daughter as a baby, I am proud to say that I have never come close to hitting her, and she is now 8. When I need to get my point across, I just use my "daddy voice" (not yelling, just a change to a more serious tone).
Would be more fruitful if the government defaulted to strict 50/50 custody and in cases where a child needs watching one of the parents must be contacted first.
It is time to put default full custody to one parent to bed never to be seen again.
A young woman who is sister of a coworker of mine had a little baby and left it with her boyfriend. While she was out, he shook and beat the baby to death then put it the crib and covered it up like it was sleeping. After a few hours she returned home and discovered the baby dead. The man claimed it was sudden infant death syndrome, but the autopsy told a much more horrific story. The baby, who was 3 weeks old, had a skull fracture, 7 broken ribs, a broken arm and femur, and a dislocated knee. The guy was arrested and charged with murder. The girlfriend stood by him and when interviewed by the news said "He didn't mean to do this, but he just gets mad sometimes. Anyway, we can always have another kid". Happily he was sentenced to 24 years in prison. I hope he is miserable every single day of those 24 years and I also hope this stupid young woman never has another baby.
That baby was so young. Couldn't it just be considered a late term abortion? For the not so bright, this is sarcasm.
My prayers to the mother and family of this baby.
It strikes me as a terribly consequence for the child and the mother. She was working to support a live for her child and herself and something so horrific happens. Such a deep sorrow. I would have thought more of the boyfriend if he had actually called 911 when he noticed the baby in distress, instead he allows his girlfriend to walk in to find her baby lifeless and attempted to minimize the life and death of the child by some empty words when he obviously could have done something. It will be up to an autopsy and a court to determine the boyfriends role in the baby's death. Certainly, he could and should have done something more to aid the baby in his care. He could have stepped up and owned the responsibility of the situation.
KevinC...as the mother of twins I know exactly what you are saying and your advice is so sound and reasonable that one might believe it would be just human nature to assure the babies are in a safe place to step away for a few minutes and regroup. When mine were little I went to the downstairs (3X3 ft space) powder room. It was only about 10 feet from their play area but I had my little zen fountain, the bathroom was painted a very calming blue and some lavender room spray and I was close enough that if the cries changed to distress I could be with them in seconds. There is no shame in walking away from a child who is crying when all reasonable causes have been checked. So many things can trigger upset in a baby. I would suggest that any young man who is dating a woman with an infant or a child to take that relationship very seriously and make attempts to understand how to care for a baby and know why babies cry. If you see the young woman in your future and you see that baby in your future...be the best man you can be and ask for support from your family or community for opportunities to understand what it takes to be a special person in a babies life. Most people don't realize some of the opportunities available. Most Hospitals offer sibling and parenting classes. They are inexpensive and yet invaluable. For any young mothers who have a significant other caring for your child or even just involved with you...ask the guy to take a class, take the class with him if he won't go alone. It is awful to see young women struggling to do everything right and have something like this destroy the world they are trying so hard to create. There are some really good men out there but they need to know what it takes to be in that role.
dirtydog...ooh..sarcasm or not...there is really no humor or irony in this situation.
Please somebody shake this POS until he turns blue
Put his dreadlocked head in a paint shaker and turn it on till his brains are mush. Then shoot him.
Here in Florida he could just say the baby drowned and he would go free.
If he felt threatened by the baby he can also claim a stand your ground defense
An autopsy would reveal there was no water in the lungs and therefore could not have drowned. Autopsy would also reveal the bran damage that shaking a baby can cause. The cause of death would be known no matter what the killer said.
He could have driven around with the dead body in the trunk for a few days/weeks, then tossed it into a swamp. He could go out dancing with his friends. Then when he was accused, he could claim that georgie marie molested him when he was growing up. Or blame an imaginary nanny for the baby's death.
Well he would have to be a white party girl to get away with that one.
What a piece of trash. On another note, 19 year olds should not be having kids! They are not emotionally or financially prepared for parenthood.
Let's take him down to the local Lowes; and put his head in the paint shaker.
The 19-year old didn't have any kids, he wasn't the father, he was essentially the babysitter. The article didn't say how old the baby's mother was. That said, women that leave their babies in the care of males that are not related to the child by blood should have their head examined. I knew when I saw the headline that when I read the article it would be the mother's boyfriend.
I doubt a 30 year old woman is dating a punk 19 year old. The mom is almost assuredly in the same age range as this guy, and that is just too young to have kids.
Not that it can't be done, but on average it is a very hard life for the kid and parents.
A 19 year old can die in itaq, but can't take care of a baby,They are not emotionally or financially prepared for war. Go bite an Apple engeng
I don't think a 19 year old should be in Iraq either.
I don't think any Americans should be in Iraq.
I had a baby at 17, my child would be 15 in a few months and I think I did a pretty good job. So all teenage parents aren't immature or bad and some are financially stable. (I had to get out and get a job, no parents to help me raise my kid (s)) I am now 31 with 2 more kids, so please don't judge all males or females that have kids at a young age.
@ Shell Boogie - I agree completely. I had my son at 19 and was already moved out, working full time, had private health care... I went back to work and I paid full price for daycare. I didn't have any assistance from the government in his child care expenses. I married at 24 and had two more sons, which I am raising without the help of government assistance. My boys are almost 13, 5 and 3. I am a very successful mortgage underwriter and my husband is a plant supervisor for a major company.
Kudos to you for defying the stigma that comes with having a baby young. Women like you and I are always lumped with the women who get pregnant and become a statistic.
ShellBoogie...You are an anomaly. The odds are stacked against teenage parents and all too often it leads to an epic fail like this story.
Shell, I was only 22 when we had our first kid. It was HARD and we worked our asses off to get where we are now. We had the support and drive to do very well for ourselves, so my comments are not intended to bag on young parents, but more of a cautionary tale from experience.
I don't want my kids to have to go though the hardship we had to (law school with a young kid, a wife in college, and working through it to pay the bills is not easy). If I we hadn't had the family support (child care) we did, or the motivation, our story wouldn't have been as rosy. The statistics don't lie, and having kids before your late 20s is far from ideal.
engesq, who cares- yippie for you. You stated that "we" meaning your partner. I'm sure it was real hell. Whatever. We are talking about "real" people that have kids at young, not you.
ASS U ME
Eliminate him. Wipe him out of the gene pool. That's educated talk for: Take him out back of the court room and put a 9mm slug in his head, let him flop around a bit, then encourage the crows to have a nice dinner. ...child killing scum.
Let's just get rid of the constitution - all except for the 2nd amendment, of course.
How disgusting! RIP poor baby... May this man never step foot out of prison to ever hurt another child!
At what point will these girls quit leaving their babies with their young boyfriends? You read about it all the time. These young boys are not mental adjusted, or prepared, to handle the care of babies.
The article does not mention if he is the father of the baby, but I am willing to bet he is not.
RIP little one.
A little common sense fro Northern CA, thanks for the perceptive thoughts. Not mentally adjusted, prepared. or actually willing (to selfish or self centered) to give care to their own or anybody else's baby. Doesn't have anything to do with race, just maturity and respect for life.
Why do these girls date this kind of guy? The biological father, (apparently absent), is likely no better. The girl should be tried as an accomplice.
At what point will these girls quit leaving their babies with their young boyfriends? You read about it all the time. These young boys are not mental adjusted, or prepared, to handle the care of babies.
The article does not mention if he is the father of the baby, but I am willing to bet he is not.
RIP little one.
Like a baby is always safe with the mother, right?
Perhaps at the point when the welfare laws are changed. Or maybe at the point when young single mothers decide they are better off with an employed father in the house instead of "free" money.
Bad animal, she is technically correct. Non-related males increase the risk 100s of times (How Children Develop, psych text) compared to the bio mother.
When will women start being fussier about the "Sperm donor"? There was a time when a woman had more self respect and didn't lie down with whatever walks.
To me, if I am not good enough for him to commit to/marry, then HE is not good enough to be in my bed.
Where is the father of this poor child? Did he even know or care that he had produced a baby?
Denver: She left her baby to go to work and will never see her child again. Where does welfare enter into this situation (other than an absence of subsidies for parents to try to produce better offspring that you find in most civilized countries).
"financially prepared"?? there on welfare...it's all free...this guy should do life...
Obviously 'on welfare' is not financially prepared. And I agree, the guy should do life.
I wish we lived in a world that we needed to take a pill to become pregnant, rather than the other way around. Too many kids are born into incredibly adverse situations.
Excuse me--did you read the story before you made your remark about welfare? The child was with the murdering scum boyfriend because the mother was at WORK.
Good point patter. I still feel that in today's world 19 is just too young to be having kids.
Article didn't say how old the mother is.
Mike-679507 - Where do you get off saying obviously on welfare. Did you read that this happened while the girl was a work? The 19 year old boy is the one that was at home with the child (RIP). He was not out making a living for the three of them. If you want to make statements about a subject, read and understand before opening your mouth. Engage brain first!!!
So apparently you know something that was not in the article. That is, she is not receiving ADC.
He assumes "there" on welfare because the guy is black, it doesn't matter that the mother was at work at the time. He'll probably come back with that she was a prostitute or a stripper, because that's what people like mike679507 do.
Article states "his girlfriend's baby" -- i don't think they would have put it quite that way if it was also his baby..
It's harder to hear of these as the father of a 6 week old. They are truly helpless. I would mortified if having done this, and that this guy was acting like it was no big deal, etc., shows his cold nature.
He must have no conscience at all. Anyone who did would call 911 after the baby stopped responding. Maybe they would claim to have no idea what happened, but at least call 911. So he's a sociopath or he has brain damage or is on drugs.
Again again and again.
What is wrong with us?
Again, and again, and again.
What is wrong with them?
If this proves to be true, I suggest the following as punishment.
Tie his head to a jack hammer and let someone use it on a nice big piece of granite. At least until there are a thousand little pieces of granite. If he survives, send him to prison for the rest of his pathetic life and let the big boys make use of him.
Nice
This guy needs to shaken to death too...."Do unto others as you would have then do unto you" That sounds like a good plan...who else agrees?
I don't know... I would have to have the whole story before deciding if he is a murderer or he made a horrible, fatal mistake. To be honest, this following part sounds like he was in shock, like "wtf did just happen?" not the words of a cold blooded murderer:
Stewart said Davis acted as if nothing had happened. “He sat there saying, 'Everything will be alright …We’re in this together … I know you’re hurting. I am here for you,'" Stewart said.
And if he did mean to kill the baby, wouldn't he have tried to make it look like an accident or something like that rather than just leave the baby there? I don't know... For some reason I am thinking the baby started crying, he didn't know how to make him stop, got frustrated, and shook him... and that to me is not "murder" in the sense that he wasn't trying to kill him, just make him stop crying. I am not condoning him eh, he should do time... but even moms have shaken their babies before. Why do you think there is so much info now about NOT shaking your baby and just going to another room?
And was there ANY indication of remorse? None that I saw.
Yes, he likely lost it with a crying baby. But he could have let it cry and walk away until his own emotional state was calmer.... or even asked a female neighbor for a little help.
I can spare a bullet.
Is anyone asking when this kid was "vaccinated"? "shaken baby syndrome" is often a way to explain away vaccine induced deaths, SIDS and lots of adverse reactions (encephalitis, brain swelling etc).
Don't rush to judge this kid folks.
Are you kidding? If the baby stopped breathing in his sleep or had some sort of reaction, vaccine or otherwise, the guy would have called an ambulance!
Seriously? HE KILLED A BABY! I have two children, neither had any issues after being vaccinated. and like redmoth said----he would have called an ambulance.
Tip #1- common sense comes in handy in life.
Tip#2- Stop defending monsters like this!
A Angel, the truth is that physical damage casued by SKS is not reproduced by any vaccinations known to man. As with my own Grandson's murder last year due to SKS, he had retinal damge so severe that only blunt force trama was ruled as a cause. His brain was so damaged from the shaking that the shear force trama caused was off the charts.. So before you go and start to make any "non judgements" about cause, I'm sure that the forensics team studing this case will correctly determine cause. In the mean time, the suspect should be held, to protect any other innocent kids from potential harm....period. If he is innocent, then it will show in the investigation. Your anti vaccination agenda has no place in this story...
What about when this kid was jabbed with "vaccines"? The deaths and reactions they often cause are falsely blamed on "Shaken Baby syndrome" Brain swelling encephalitis, sudden infant death syndrome. All reactions of the poisons in vaccines.
Please share your scientific evidence that indicates "shaken baby" deaths are a cover for vaccines, or that you have any evidence that could have been the case here. This isn't the appropriate place for you to push your anti-vaccination agenda, have some respect for the poor baby who lost his life.
Here's a link jennyt that says it is a possibility.
http://www.nvic.org/doctors-corner/Shaken-Baby-Syndrome.aspx
It doesn't say shaken baby is non existant, but it says that other influences including vaccines have the capability of being diagnosed as sbs
There is so much wrong in this story it is hard to read. These children definetly should not have been having babies but they should have taught by parents before it happened. This is probably generations of welfare education that is why we need to restructure welfare and the role it plays in our society.
Interesting. From the story it states that the mother was at work. Where does welfare enter this? Maybe we need to restructure reading comprehension??
DOWN SOUTH "There is so much wrong in this story it is hard to read."
What are you talking about? The article did not say anything about WELFARE! And how would welfare reform help stop shaking babies?
AND;
Hard as the story was for you to read it maybe you might try again, or get someone to read it to you before you make more comments.
Oh yes, let us blame it on vaccinations....
Bubba's gonna enjoy your sweet ass in prison.
I agree with the (perceived) sarcasm from Mom2Five. I too, am a "Mom 2 Five" and never have I had a (or heard of) a child dying after being vaccinated! That's really reaching, A Angel.
Now, my comment on the story: As usual, MSN leaves out alot of important information. However, the most important fact is there: A tiny, helpless baby is DEAD because the adult who was supposed to be caring for him lost his ish. Whether he shook him, suffocated him or whatever, he's DEAD. It probably wasn't intentional or malicious. The reason we have a name for it "Shaken Baby Syndrome" is because it is prevalent in our society. After having 5, I DO understand the frustration of baby who won't stop crying. Parents do get ALOT of info on Shaken Baby Syndrome such as advice on what to do instead (walk away, deep breath etc.). If this 19-year old wasn't the father, chances are he didn't get the info. Regardless, it's very sad. Unless he's a complete monster, he will have to live with his actions for life, a mother will probably always blame herself and a child is dead. It's sad all around. What it's not, though, is vaccines. Derrrrrr.
Well stated.
Not that this guy is not guilty. If he is I'd like five minutes alone to shake him. But I checked and Angel isn't as far off the mark as it would seem
Here is a link to the National Vacination Center with an article wriiten by a doctor. What angel says is possible
http://www.nvic.org/doctors-corner/Shaken-Baby-Syndrome.aspx
That's hardly an unbiased source, Johnny.
Jessamyn,
What makes it biased?
Or is that you way of just discounting it because you disagree?
From the CDC website.
Getting diphtheria, tetanus or pertussis disease is much riskier than getting DTaP vaccine.
However, a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of DTaP vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Mild Problems (Common)
These problems occur more often after the 4th and 5th doses of the DTaP series than after earlier doses.
Sometimes the 4th or 5th dose of DTaP vaccine is followed by swelling of the entire arm or leg in which the shot was given, for 1 to 7 days (up to about 1 child in 30).
Other mild problems include:
These problems generally occur 1 to 3 days after the shot.
Moderate Problems (Uncommon)
Severe Problems (Very Rare)
Serious allergic reaction (less than 1 out of a million doses) Several other severe problems have been reported after DTaP vaccine. These include:
These are so rare it is hard to tell if they are caused by the vaccine.
Notice it says the possibility of death is very small...not non existant. Tell me is the CDC biased too?
I'm not pointing this out to be against vaccines, my kids all had them. I'm just pointing out that it is possible even if not probable.
it must all be in the timing. if the baby was still in its host's womb its brains could be sucked out and it would be called choice and applauded.
So you're happier with this outcome??
Nice try, uncle henry, but I dont think anyone applauds abortions. I have never had one myself, but I'm sure it has to be a terrible decision to have to come to.
Infants are born with immature brains, and the inability to chew (among other things); which makes me wonder why the ability to breath on it's own makes a difference between murder and choice. Was Roe vs Wade based on scientific evidence, or the ideology that fetuses are not people?
Of course Daquan was home while the women worked. Lazy piece of work he is. Let's sentence him to the big house and let Bubba know that Daquan is a baby killer. Justice served!
Daquan will convert to Islam in prison, become Muhammed Al-Maliki, and Bubba wont be able to touch him.
Why is shaking a baby to death considered to be manslaughter and not murder????
Intent.
I get nauseous when I read a horrible, tragic story about a baby being killed; I get even more sick to my stomach when commenters use this tragedy as a way to push their own agenda (anti vaccination, anti choice). Grow up!
I was reading "our babies, ourselves" (Small) and the fact that infants are born with underdeveloped brains, and the inability to chew (among other things) makes me wonder why the ability to breath on it's own makes a difference between murder and choice. Was Roe vs Wade based on scientific evidence, or the ideology that fetuses are not people?
It was based upon legal principles as well as scientific evidence. We develop by degrees: up to 26 weeks a fetus cannot experience pain, react to external stimulus, or have higher brain function. At 40 weeks they can.
Watch the video and see the unmistakable effect of a gene pool that breeds sociopath's and prison fodder.