11-Month-Old Girl Found Dead Inside Father's Vehicle; Pregnant Mother Arrested

A pregnant Lousiana woman has been charged with second-degree murder after her 11-month-old daughter was found dead with severe injuries inside the cargo of her husband's vehicle.

The investigators took 21-year-old Kageionna Butler into custody on Oct. 10 in connection with the death of her infant daughter, Zabria Guidry, last month. The infant's father, 26-year-old Jake Guidry, was previously arrested and has been charged with second-degree murder after he admitted to hitting his daughter ''too hard,'' reported Houma Today.

On Sept. 28, detectives responded to the couple's home to check on the child after receiving a call from a concerned family member. Upon arriving at the home, officers found the infant dead in the back of Jake's SUV.

Investigators determined the alleged role of Butler after an autopsy revealed that the child had sustained multiple severe injuries and died of Battered Infant Syndrome. The extent and nature of injuries indicated that the child's death was not the result of a single isolated beating.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Battered Infant Syndrome is defined as a condition when a child suffers sustained injuries "as a result of repeated mistreatment or beating.''

The police determined that Butler was aware of the abuse but did nothing to protect her daughter and stop the abuse. She also did not take any steps to seek medical attention for the child, police said.

"The investigation determined the mother was aware of the abuse. She may or may not have contributed; we don’t know. The father has claimed responsibility for his actions but has not given any explanation beyond that he struck the baby too hard. But the pathology report clearly indicates more than a single incident," Sheriff Craig Webre said.

The couple has been booked into Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on a $1 million bond. If convicted, they could face a maximum sentence of life without parole, Crime & Law reported.

It’s tragic in so many ways,” Webre said. “The mother is currently pregnant with another child. In cases like this, it really creates distress for a lot of people, including the public at large," he added.