A 29-year-old Fayetteville man pleads guilty to charges in the 2021 death of his infant daughter.

 

 Charles Dugan initially told police that he had left a bottle in the mouth of his 4-month-old daughter while she was lying in her crib before leaving the room for 10 minutes. He told officers that the child was choking when he returned to check on her. He stated that he then called 911.

 

An autopsy on the baby later indicated that she died due to closed head injuries caused by blunt force trauma and that the child also had rib fractures. When police questioned Dugan, his story changed. He claimed he had fallen asleep with the child on his chest and that she must have fallen. Dugan claimed the fall happened 30 to 45 minutes before he put the baby in her crib.

 

Dugan entered a guilty plea to charges of second degree murder and was sentenced to 15 year in prison with a 15 year suspended sentence.