Dad remains jailed
in baby's deathThe trauma occurred while
the mother ran an airport
errand, court papers reveal
A Salt Lake man accused of killing his 7-week-old son was caring for the child while the infant's mother picked up a friend at the airport, according to court documents.
Ericka Bridenstine told police she left Kelbey Bridenstine with his father, 33-year-old Derrick Smith, about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday. When she returned four hours later, city emergency medical workers were at Smith's Ala Ilima Street home trying to revive the boy.
Smith is charged with second-degree murder in the death of the child.
He made his initial court appearance yesterday and remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.
The Honolulu medical examiner said the boy died of abusive head trauma.
Smith told police that about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, he was carrying the boy to the bedroom to place him in the crib when the child slipped and landed headfirst on the floor, court documents say.
After the child fell, Smith said, he put the boy in a swing and noticed blood coming from the infant's nose. He cleaned the blood, then noticed the boy was unresponsive. After he shook the boy a little and tapped his face, Smith told police, he called 911 and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
When Bridenstine arrived and asked Smith what happened, he said he accidentally dropped the boy and told her to "chill," according court documents police submitted in the case.
The infant was transported to Kaiser Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The medical examiner reported the child's injuries were not accidental.
