Charges for man accused of putting infant daughter in freezer
May 28, 2013, 2:09 PM | Updated: 3:07 pm
A Pierce County man could face life in prison if convicted of putting his 6-week-old daughter in a freezer.
Tyler James Deutsch, 25, was charged Tuesday with first-degree assault of a child, first-degree criminal mistreatment and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.
“This is one of those crimes that defy understanding,” said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “Our prayers are with the baby.”
According to court documents, police and medics were called to the home in Roy on May 25 for reports an infant was in a freezer. Medics found the baby with blistered skin and a core temperature of 84 degrees. The child was taken to an area hospital where it was discovered she also had a head injury, as well as a broken arm and leg.
The mother of the child told police she left her baby at home with Deutsch for about two hours on Saturday afternoon. She said she saw him remove the baby, who was wearing only a diaper, from the freezer as she returned home. The mother said she tried to call 911, but Deutsch took the phone and she got help from neighbors.
Deutsch told police he was tired and the baby was crying so he put her in the freezer next to a bag of cauliflower and fell asleep, according to court documents.
Doctors believe the baby will survive, but Lindquist said it is “too soon to assess potential complications.”
Lindquist said his office will seek an exceptional sentence in the case because the child is a vulnerable victim.
Deutsch is being held on $1 million bail.
