Bolivar Man Charged In Newborn's Death

BOLIVAR (KDKA) -- The death of a 20-day-old baby has been ruled a homicide by the Indiana County Coroner's Office.

State police say the infant, Natalee Mibroda, of West Bolivar, was pronounced dead at the emergency room of Indiana Regional Hospital Tuesday afternoon.

Homicide charges have been filed against her father, identified by investigators as 25-year-old Clayton Mibroda.

The Indiana County Coroner says the baby died from blunt force trauma to the head and chest. The autopsy was performed in Pittsburgh.

"The child had multiple bruising on her body, particularly about the head and face and also some areas on her trunk, particularly on the right shoulder where we were able to isolate a fracture of the right clavicle that had occurred as well," Indiana County Coroner Mike Baker said.

Police say they became suspicious when Mibroda told two different stories about how his daughter became injured.

He told police he was watching the baby in his Bolivar home when he became frustrated by her crying. He claims he was carrying the little girl to her bedroom when he slipped on some water and dropped her, accidentally kicking her in the head.

"The scenario presented by Mr. Mibroda as to what occurred at the residence was not consistent with the injuries that the autopsy revealed," State Police Sgt. Ryan Maher said.

The baby's great grandmother came to the house shortly after the alleged abuse and was the one who called 911. The child's mother was not home at the time.

Before his arrest, Mibroda posted a message on his Facebook page: "I'm at a loss for words except parents should not have to bury their babies. Natalee you just started to make a big spot in my heart and you were so tiny in my hands baby girl."

Mibroda was being held in the Westmoreland County Jail. He has a preliminary hearing January 6.

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