Affidavit: Augusta County suspect in abuse case changed story, 'baby shaking' alleged
STAUNTON — In March, the Augusta County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of a Mount Sidney man who is accused of physically abusing his 2-month-old daughter after initial reports pointed to a possible drowning.
A search warrant recently filed by a county investigator has shed more light on the allegations.
Malik O. Strother, 26, the girl's father, is charged with felony cruelty and injury to a child, along with malicious wounding, according to online Augusta County Circuit Court records.
The child was seriously injured, the sheriff's office said.
Based on an affidavit for a search warrant, the Augusta County Emergency Communications Center received a call the afternoon of March 21, and an on-call investigator was sent to Augusta Health in Fishersville, where he spoke to Strother.
Strother told the investigator he was at home on Valley View Drive watching his 2-month-old, his 1-year-old son and 3-year-old stepson after working the night shift at his job, the affidavit said. Around 12:30 p.m. on the day of the incident, Strother, who would later change his story, said his infant daughter was awakened from a nap by a barking dog. At that point, Strother said he decided to give her a bath, court records show.
Strother said when he put the infant in a tub of water, she rolled to her side "and extended her arms out in front of her." Strother said he performed CPR and "frantically looked for his cell phone to call 911 after the bathtub incident."
However, medical staff at Augusta Health said the infant showed no signs of drowning. Strother also stated she hadn't experienced any seizures in the past, according to the affidavit.
Following a CT scan, it was discovered the infant was suffering from brain bleed, the affidavit said. She also had several seizures at the hospital and began foaming at the mouth. A doctor noted the area of the bleed location was uncommon and most likely caused by trauma, the affidavit said. The child was then flown to UVA Health in Charlottesville.
That same day, a search of the home revealed two Blink security cameras, but Strother told authorities they only offered a live feed.
The following day, the infant was diagnosed with a number of injuries, including two bi-lateral brain bleeds, brain swelling, bruising behind one of her eyes and a spinal injury. A doctor said the child's injuries were consistent "with baby shaking," the affidavit said.
In a follow-up interview, Strother changed his version of events and claimed on the day the baby was injured he was holding her when he tripped over a vacuum cord and landed on top of her, the affidavit said.
The search warrant recently filed in Augusta County Circuit Court said that even if the cameras were live feed only, footage is often saved by the company itself, and authorities are now hoping to review the Blink footage to see if video of the incident exists.
Strother, who was indicted on the two felony charges just days after the allegations surfaced, remains at Middle River Regional Jail in Verona, where he is being held without bond.
In 2022, Strother had a charge of abduction taken under advisement by the Augusta County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, with the charge slated to be dismissed in 2025 if he stayed trouble-free. However, with his most recent arrest, he now risks a conviction on the abduction charge.
Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter).
The Augusta County Sheriff's Office arrested a Mount Sidney man over the weekend amid allegations he physically abused a 2-month-old baby.
On Thursday afternoon, the Augusta County Emergency Communications Center received a call for service concerning an infant that had possibly drowned, a press release said.
Emergency personell responded to the 100 block of Valley View Drive in Mount Sidney, where life-saving measures were performed on a baby. Initially taken to Augusta Health in Fishersville, the baby was then flown to UVA Health in Charlottesville.
After the Augusta County Sheriff's Office was notified, medical professionals and investigators determined the baby's injuries likely resulted from being physically abused. Lt. Leslie Snyder, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said there was no evidence of a possible drowning. Snyder said the baby, who remained hospitalized Monday, suffered serious injuries.
On Saturday, the sheriff's office arrested Malik O. Strother, 25, of Mount Sidney. He's charged with felony cruelty and injury to a child, the release said.
Strother is being held without bond at Middle River Regional Jail in Verona.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Affidavit: Augusta County suspect in child abuse case changed story
