One-year-old Amaya Milton died on August 6 after being admitted to Riley Hospital for Children six days earlier with brain swelling from lack of oxygen and torn ligaments in her neck. Her father, 28-year-old Damian Milton, called 911 on July 31 when Amaya became unresponsive and had trouble breathing at their Indianapolis home while the child's mother was at work. Milton initially attributed the injuries to a fall that had occurred about a week earlier, but eventually confessed to police that he became frustrated with Amaya for being fussy, yanked her by the arm, gave her a bear hug with her face pressed into his chest, and squeezed the back of her neck while she gasped for air. Doctors determined the injuries were consistent with non-accidental inflicted trauma and potentially violent shaking. Milton was arrested, charged, and following a jury trial was convicted of aggravated battery (a Level 1 felony) and sentenced to 35 years in the Indiana Department of Correction.
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 inflicted injuries. Document 1 (fox59.com) states Milton "yanked her by the arm, gave her a bear hug and squeezed her neck while she gasped for air." Document 2 (lawandcrime.com) elaborates that he "'yanked' her by the arm, picked her up, and gave her a 'bear hug' with her nose and mouth pressed into his chest while placing one of his hands on the back of her neck and squeezing while she gasped for air." Document 2 also notes scratches on her face from him "wiping tears from her face too harshly."
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 2 (lawandcrime.com) explicitly states: "The hospital's Child Protection Team reportedly determined that her injuries could have been caused by being violently shaken." The child also had brain swelling and ligament injuries to the neck consistent with abusive head trauma.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
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?
Both documents identify Damian Milton as the child's father. Document 1 (fox59.com) states "An Indianapolis father is under arrest" and refers to "the girl's father." Document 2 (lawandcrime.com) states "A 28-year-old father in Indiana was arrested for allegedly killing his 1-year-old daughter." He is identified as the biological father throughout.
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)
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 (fox59.com) states "Damian Milton, 28, was arrested and charged with serious bodily injury of a minor resulting in death." Document 2 (lawandcrime.com) states he "was taken into custody on Monday and charged with one count of battery resulting in the death of a person under age 14, a level 1 felony." Document 1 further updates that "Following a jury trial, Damian Milton was found guilty of one count of aggravated battery, a Level 1 felony" and was "sentenced to 35 years in the Indiana Department of Correction."
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 1 (fox59.com) contains notable trial and sentencing details: Milton was found guilty of aggravated battery (Level 1 felony) but acquitted of neglect of a dependent resulting in death (Level 1 felony), and was sentenced to 35 years. Additionally, the suspect's mother raised a potentially significant claim that "doctors at Riley did not perform a brain scan when the baby was taken to the hospital for the fall on July 25th," suggesting a possible missed earlier diagnosis. The father also initially attempted to attribute the fatal injuries to this earlier fall, with Document 1 noting court records show he "claimed her injuries may have stemmed from a fall at his home on Meridian several days earlier."
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