Parents charged in homicide of 10-week-old daughter

WASHINGTON — Montgomery County police arrested Thursday the parents of a 10-week-old baby girl who died  earlier this summer. The couple has been charged with homicide and detectives are investigating instances of physical and sexual abuse involving the child as well.

The father, 24-year-old Robert Alan Davidson, and the mother, 22-year-old Lorena Thompson, of the 200 block of East Argyle Street in Rockville, Maryland  face a list of charges in the homicide case of their baby Aleah Thompson.

On June 23, 2015 at 7:18 p.m., Davidson called 911 to report that his daughter was not breathing and was unresponsive. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue responded to the home and transported the unresponsive baby to a local hospital.  She was then flown to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in the District. The baby then succumbed to her injuries on June 26.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Washington, D.C. ruled Aleah’s manner of death as homicide caused by multiple blunt force injuries.

According to a statement released by the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division, Davidson stated in a police interview that on June 23,  the baby’s mother Thompson was at work and that he was Aleah’s primary caregiver. He told police he was playing video games in the living room and heard sounds of labored breathing coming from the bedroom. He went to the bedroom and discovered Aleah unresponsive and limp but then attempted to resuscitate her prior to calling 911.

During subsequent police interviews, Davidson admitted to committing acts that constitute sexual abuse of a child and stated he had dropped Aleah several times in the past and that one time she had rolled off the couch. He also admitted to aggressively shaking the baby girl  on June 23. However, prior to June 23, the father did not attempt to obtain medical care for the baby after any of the incidents he described.

When Thompson was interviewed by investigators, police reported that she admitted she had seen injuries on Aleah including bruise  on more than one occasion and that those injuries occurred while Aleah was in the care of Davidson. But at no time did Thompson seek medical care for the baby’s injuries. She also did not take the baby to a two-month medical wellness visit, according to police.

On Aug. 20,  detectives obtained warrants for Davidson and Thompson. They were both arrested Friday at 12:15 p.m. at their residence.

Davidson has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in death, first-degree child abuse resulting in severe physical injury, neglect of a minor, sexual abuse of a minor, and second-degree sex offense.

Thompson has been charged with first-degree child abuse resulting in death, first-degree child abuse resulting in severe physical injury, and neglect of a minor, for failing to protect her daughter from chronic physical and sexual abuse inflicted by Davidson.

Bond information is not available at this time.  Thompson has a 5-year-old son from a previous relationship who is now in the custody of his father.

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