Man charged with murder, Child Abuse in Midland toddler’s death
MIDLAND, MI – A Kalamazoo County man is charged with murder in connection with the death of a Midland toddler.
Damian A. Garrett, 23, of Augusta, on Friday, Sept. 20, appeared in Midland County District Court for arraignment on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree child abuse. Both are life offenses, with the former mandating no possible parole if convicted.
The arraigning judge denied granting Garrett bond.
Police had arrested Garrett in the early morning hours of Thursday, Sept. 19. Two days prior, at about 3:05 p.m., police responded to an apartment in the 5200 block of Hedgewood Drive for a report of a child not breathing. They arrived to find emergency medical responders in the process of rendering CPR to an unresponsive girl.
The 21-month-old girl, identified by Midland County Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks as Skylar N. Papple, was transported to Mid-Michigan Medical Center where staff pronounced her dead.
Garrett was in a dating relationship with the child’s mother, police have said.
Brooks said Skylar died due to drowning and also suffered some secondary head trauma. Garrett had been home alone with Skylar, giving her a bath, Brooks said.
At some point, he ran to neighbors’ homes seeking help, then flagged down a UPS driver, who called 911, Brooks said.
Garrett is to appear for a preliminary examination at 2 p.m. on Oct. 15.
My Brother's Keeper 
He was abusive towards the baby many witnesses came forth. Multiple people witnessed the abuse. Many people have proof. The thing is people knew and didn’t call authorities. They thought they would bash and bully the mother instead. This could be been prevented had people stepped up.
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Thank You Jennifer, I hope you know how much we value your input, and everyone’s who has a caring, loving heart for Children.
If this old world just had several hundred thousand people for every one who cares so much, this world would be the place it was created to be.
Sincerely,
Robert
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Not sure myself from what the article says. Don’t want to be on the jury though.
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Keith, Thank You, his looks say one thing, but I have to agree with you, and they didn’t say she had been shaken.
I appreciate your input!
Sincereely,
Robert
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Poor little girl, Robert.
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I know Irene, this was a very sad story, although with as little as was said, I wondered how the Law was so quick to file murder on this young man.
Sincerely,
Robert
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There are lots of other news articles on this where you can read more. He got angry at the one year old child for “being fussy” while he was washing her hair and hit her in the head or back several times. She hit her head against when she was knocked down. She was then left in the bath for several minutes face down while he “cooled off”. He had a history of abusing her according to family members in the few weeks he had been dating the mother. It’s all sickening.
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Holly123, Thank You so much for your input!!!!
Very seldom do we have the chance to pick thru multiple different news accounts of the same abuse news, usually it is filtered to the point of being a totally different story.
I have to agree with you as far as your comment “It’s all sickening”, although I would have to add “Heart Breaking”.
I ran a different search string, and the first words out of his mouth was that she got upset because her hair got wet, and started screaming, and he hit or pushed….
I pray they give this sewer rat a permanent home and never let him out of it.
How can anyone hurt a Child????
Thank You Holly123, you have earned your place here by the fire, we hope you return, because few people have a caring, loving heart for Children, and yours is solid gold.
Sincerely,
Robert
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