12-week-old Lyla Samuels died after being found unresponsive following a Jan. 16 911 call; first responders performed CPR and she was hospitalized but died on Jan. 18. Her father, 24-year-old Shawn Samuels, was arrested on Jan. 17 for elevated aggravated assault and bail violations and was later charged with murder after a Jan. 19 autopsy. The autopsy found four broken ribs, retinal hemorrhages and brain swelling consistent with acceleration–deceleration trauma. Family members have paid tribute online and a GoFundMe has raised funds to help the grieving family as the Maine State Police continue their investigation.
12-Week-Old Baby Lyla Samuels Dies; Father Arrested On Murder And Assault Charges
penobscot county jail;gofundmeShawn Samuels; Lyla Samuels
A 12-week-old infant, Lyla Samuels, has died in Maine after being found unresponsive following a Jan. 16 911 call. Authorities have arrested the baby’s father, 24-year-old Shawn Samuels, who faces multiple charges including murder and elevated aggravated assault as investigators continue to probe the circumstances of the infant’s injuries and death.
Timeline Of Events
On Jan. 16 the Penobscot Regional Communication Center received a report that a 12-week-old child was unresponsive at a residence in Penobscot County, according to a Maine State Police (MSP) news release. First responders from Orrington Fire & Rescue, the Brewer Fire Department and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office arrived and performed CPR; responders briefly restored the infant’s breathing before she was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
A relative who contacted dispatch said the child’s father was alone with the baby "for the first time," The Boston Globe reported. Investigators from MSP’s Major Crimes Unit subsequently focused on the infant’s father, Shawn Samuels.
gofundmeLyla Samuels
Arrests, Charges And Court
On Jan. 17 deputies arrested Shawn Samuels on charges of domestic violence elevated aggravated assault and two counts of violation of bail. Authorities later learned the infant, identified as Lyla Samuels, died on Jan. 18; law enforcement said the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Following an autopsy conducted on Jan. 19, Shawn was arrested and charged with murder at the Penobscot County Jail, the MSP release stated. He appeared in court on Jan. 21, entered a not guilty plea and had bail set at $250,000. His next scheduled court appearance is Feb. 13.
Autopsy Findings
An autopsy report reviewed by the Bangor Daily News documents significant injuries: four broken ribs, retinal hemorrhages and swelling of the brain. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Alice Briones determined the brain bleeding was consistent with an acceleration–deceleration injury and said such trauma would not occur in a healthy infant without severe external force.
penobscot county jailShawn Samuels
Family Reaction And Community Support
Lyla’s mother, Leah Collins, told the Bangor Daily News that her daughter was "a gift from God, returned to Heaven much too soon" and described Lyla as "missed beyond what words could ever express, but will forever stay in our hearts as the precious, perfect baby girl that she is." Relatives and friends posted tributes on social media, remembering Lyla’s smile and the joy she brought to the family.
A GoFundMe organized by family friend Jeremy Boutot has raised more than $10,000 to help cover funeral and unforeseen expenses. Boutot wrote that the community stepped in "so the family does not have to shoulder these burdens alone" and urged donations to support the grieving family.
Ongoing Investigation
The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate Lyla’s death while the criminal case proceeds through the Penobscot County courts. Authorities have not released additional details about the alleged circumstances beyond the autopsy findings and arrest records.
"We refuse to let the darkness win," the GoFundMe description states, calling on community support for the Collins family during their grieving process.
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