Virginia Couple Who Said Pet Cat Killed Their Newborn Daughter Was Arrested In The Baby's Murder

A Virginia couple who tortured their 10-day-old daughter to death and tried to pass the blame on to the family's pet cat was arrested Monday.

The baby, Raven Michelle Sebolka, was brought to a local hospital on July 30 at around 8:30 p.m. ET with "unknown injuries." Deputies from the Richmond Police Department were called to the hospital and investigators determined the baby suffered the injuries "while in her home," Law and Crime reported.

The baby's father, Matthew Sebolka, 23, told deputies that he left the infant in her car seat briefly to use the toilet and upon returning, he discovered the family's cat on the baby's neck, according to CBS-affiliate WTVR-TV.

Matthew then said he called the baby's mother, Elizabeth Tyler Sebolka, who then took the baby to a hospital with rashes in the body and puffy eyes. However, WTVR learned that the staff at the medical facility discovered the baby suffered a skull fracture, bruising on the left side of her head and exhibited possible signs of suffocation.

The baby succumbed to her injuries on Aug. 10 and the county medical examiner determined the death to be homicide, Law and Crime reported.

Matthew was charged with neglect of a child causing serious injury, while authorities indicated he might face additional charges. Elizabeth was also arrested on Monday just after 9:00 p.m. ET and charged with abuse and neglect of a child as well as making false statements to police during the investigation of another crime, WTVR-TV reported.

W. Edward Riley, a criminal defense attorney in Virginia, who is not involved in the case, told WTVR-TV that it's going to be a difficult legal battle for the couple in light of the applicable law in the commonwealth.

"The law in Virginia is really broad on allowing the Commonwealth to demonstrate cause of death related to the original act of trauma, which is usually shot, stabbed or, as in this case, what appears to be trauma to the head," Riley told the outlet. "If your client is the one that did that, it’ll be very difficult to defend. Then the question is: is it second-degree murder or manslaughter as far as the malice? If there’s anger or fear that negates the murder and makes it a manslaughter case."