Two-month-old Ammarie Denig died on June 23, 2022, from traumatic brain injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome after being in the sole care of her father, Roger Aaron Denig, 21, in their home in Lemhi County, Idaho. On June 21, the mother called 911 after the father reported the baby had stopped breathing and turned blue; paramedics observed older bruises on the infant's forehead and upper body. Medical evaluation at multiple hospitals revealed multiple brain injuries, tearing of the brain consistent with a sudden physical assault, retinal hemorrhage in both eyes, and several broken ribs in various stages of healing (estimated 10-14 days old), indicating repeated prior abuse. The child was placed on life support and pronounced dead two days later at Primary Children's Hospital in Utah. During the investigation, the father initially attributed the injuries to rough roads and patting the baby too hard, but eventually partially admitted he may have shaken her harder than he thought due to frustration with the baby's fussiness. He was arrested on June 24 and charged with first-degree murder.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Both documents describe extensive inflicted injuries. Document 1 states: "Additional signs show tearing of the brain, which is consistent with a sudden, external, physical assault" and "There is retinal hemorrhage in both eyes, which is present with traumatic head injuries." The child had multiple broken ribs, brain injuries, and bruising. Document 2 similarly reports: "additional signs show tearing of the brain, which is consistent with a sudden, external, physical assault." The father admitted he may have shaken the child: "Denig stated maybe he shook her harder than he thought."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Document 1 explicitly states: "Ammarie Denig, the doctor determined, had traumatic brain injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome." Document 2 similarly reports: "The doctor said she likely suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome, forceful, aggressive and external shaking of an infant or toddler." The father also partially admitted to shaking the child.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
The affidavit, as quoted in Document 1, explicitly states: "This detective believes the infant's injuries were not a medical issue and the child was willfully and deliberately tortured." Additionally, the broken ribs were found in "various stages of healing that could be between 10 to 14 days old," and the autopsy revealed even more broken ribs in different healing stages, indicating a pattern of repeated physical abuse over an extended period. Document 2 corroborates: "the CT scan show(s) several broken ribs in various stages of healing" and bruising "10 to 14 days old." For a 2-month-old infant, this indicates a sustained pattern of cruel treatment beyond a single incident.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Roger Aaron Denig is identified as the child's father in both documents. Document 1 states: "Roger Aaron Denig, 21, stands accused of one count of murder in the first degree after Ammarie Denig died." Document 2 confirms: "A 21-year-old father from Salmon is charged with first-degree murder after the death of his 2-month-old daughter." The child's mother reported that the father took the baby and was alone with her before the baby stopped breathing. The detective confronted the father, who partially admitted to shaking the child.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Document 1 states the defendant told paramedics "his daughter suffers from laryngomalacia, which is congenital, meaning a baby is born with it." The article further describes it as a "congenital disability" that is "characterized by the softening of the tissues above the larynx" causing "stridor (noisy or high-pitched breathing)." Document 2 similarly mentions the father "told EMT's Ammarie had a medical condition called Lyrangomalicia that can cause her to choke." This is a physical congenital condition affecting the child's airway.
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Document 1 states: "Roger Denig was arrested Saturday in Lemhi County" and was charged with "one count of murder in the first degree." Document 2 confirms: "Denig was arrested on June 24" and "Roger Aaron Denig is being held in the Lemhi County Jail after his arraignment on Monday. He is being held on a $500,000 bail."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Document 2 notes that during the interview, the defendant exhibited nervous behavior: "He was shaking, and even commented on that fact saying 'he must be nervous.'" More notably, Document 2 reports that the defendant made a conditional admission of responsibility: "Denig stated he may have and if he did, he will take accountability for his actions." Additionally, Document 2's update notes that the defense filed a "motion to involve a Special Investigator on the case, which was granted by the court," which is a somewhat unusual procedural development in a first-degree murder case involving a 2-month-old. The child also had to be transported across state lines (from Idaho to Utah) for appropriate medical care, being airlifted twice after the initial hospital visit, highlighting potential issues with access to specialized pediatric care in the rural eastern Idaho/Lemhi County area.
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