CT - Man arrested after baby found dead in motel bathtub - Aug 21, 2024

[Clearsky]

https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/milford-woodmont-road-mayflower-motel-infant-death-19714717.php

Later Wednesday, police said they had arrested "a person of interest" in the child's death. Police initally said they were looking to make contact with Dale Kirkland, 31, and said he was last seen in Bridgeport.

 

[tlcya]

“There were nights I couldn’t sleep because of hearing the water running nonstop, the banging on the walls, the yelling, the child crying. We’ve all made phone calls down to the office to let them know what’s going on"
Cleaning staff finds dead infant in bathtub at Milford motel, Person of interest located

quote from a neighboring room tenant. Mr. Kirkland is indeed the man charged. No word yet on his relationship to the baby and why the baby was in his apparent sole care and custody in a motel room

 

[LaineyJ]

I’m local to this, and a recently filed court case has been a topic. It appears just a week ago he petitioned for custody of a child, though I’m not sure if it’s the infant or if he has other children. Very disturbing though.

Party Name Search

Hopefully that link works, you can search by party name and it’s the only case that comes up for him.

 

[tlcya]

According to court documents, a judge signed a 14-day sealing order on the arrest warrant affidavit. Investigators in the sealing order said the continuing investigation could be “adversely affected” by the disclosure of the warrant affidavit.
CT man held on $1 million bond in connection with death of infant found in motel bathtub

Apparently he checked in the day prior with the baby. Glad the bond is so high. I have a feeling there are lots more charges to come. Currently they are only holding him on charges of risk of injury to a minor and cruelty to persons. Based on that high bond I fully expect murder charges will eventually come.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage at the motel and found that Kirkland was dropped off the previous night, when he could be seen checking into a room and later entering it with a child, according to the warrant affidavit. The following morning, video footage showed him leaving the room at 8:38 a.m. wearing dark sunglasses and a mask over part of his face, the warrant affidavit said. He did not have a child with him when he left.

The Connecticut Department of Children and Families had an open case with Kirkland for about four weeks prior to the infant’s death

CT man charged in death of infant found in motel bathtub found not competent to stand trial

A man charged with murder in the death of his infant daughter, who was found submerged in water in a bathtub at a motel in Milford last summer, has been found not competent to stand trial. The ruling was made Tuesday during a hearing in Milford Superior Court where 31-year-old Dale Kirkland...

www.yahoo.com

 

[tlcya]

Kirkland must spend 60 days at Whiting Forensic Hospital in Middletown.

He will return to court in March for another competency hearing.
Father of baby found dead at Milford motel found not competent to stand trial

Kirkland is scheduled to return to court March 4.
https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/dale-kirkland-infant-drowning-milford-court-20019035.php

I suspect Mr. Kirkland has long standing and serious MH issues which causes me to question how on earth HE came to be the one with physical custody of this child. Thus far I've seen no mention whatsoever of the infant's mother.