Six-month-old Scarlett M. Marsh died by asphyxiation on the night of May 17, 2022, in Midland, Michigan. Her father, Alex Marsh (age 20), was the sole caregiver while her mother, Isabelle, worked a night shift from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. According to prosecutors, Marsh placed a four-pound blanket from his own bedroom over the infant in her crib, reportedly because the baby was being fussy and he wanted to make her be quiet. He then did not check on the baby for approximately 12 hours, playing video games instead, and had turned off the camera in the baby's room and did not use the baby monitor. The next morning, Marsh picked up his wife from work, reportedly already knowing the child was dead. When Isabelle returned home and found the baby lifeless in the crib, she had to beg Marsh to call 911 and ultimately made the call herself. Marsh later admitted to returning the blanket to his room to hide it from police. Bloody discharge was found in the crib and around the body. Marsh was arrested on May 20, 2022, and ultimately pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, receiving a sentence of 13½ to 22 years in prison.
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)?
Document 1 states that Marsh "didn't come back in to check on her for what he said was 12 hours." He also did not use the baby monitor because "the beeping annoyed him" and the camera in the baby's room was turned off. Document 2 states he "reportedly played video games on the night of May 17, 2022, into the next morning" while the baby was unsupervised. He was the sole caregiver responsible for the infant while the mother worked her night shift.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The prosecution argued that Marsh deliberately placed a four-pound blanket on the infant, leading to her asphyxiation. Document 1 states the prosecutor said Marsh "got frustrated and decided to make her be quiet" and "went out of his way to get the heaviest blanket from his room and put it over the baby." While the defense called it a "tragic accident" and the county prosecutor later stated he doesn't believe Marsh intentionally killed the infant (Document 2), Marsh pleaded no contest to second-degree murder. Placing a heavy blanket on an infant causing asphyxiation is functionally analogous to smothering, which constitutes an inflicted injury.
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?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Multiple documents describe a four-pound blanket being placed on a six-month-old infant in her crib. Document 1 quotes the prosecutor: "Any remotely logical person would know that was not a blanket you would put on a baby." The prosecutor also noted Marsh "went out of his way to get the heaviest blanket from his room and put it over the baby." Additionally, Document 1 notes Marsh did not use the baby monitor and the camera in the baby's room was turned off, further contributing to the unsafe sleeping conditions.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Alex Marsh is identified as the biological father of the victim, Scarlett. Document 1 states he was charged "in connection with the death of his infant daughter." He was the sole caregiver at the time of the child's death, was convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to 13½ to 22 years in prison (Document 2).
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?
Alex Marsh was arrested by Midland Police on May 20, 2022 (Document 1). He was initially arraigned on a count of open murder (Document 3), later charged with felony murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree child abuse (Document 1), and ultimately pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 13½ to 22 years in prison (Document 2).
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 2 describes the grandmother, Andrea Snoddy, stating that "in January 2022 Marsh raised his fist to her, and she had never seen such anger and aggression in someone." Additionally, Snoddy described Marsh as controlling, "never letting Snoddy talk to her daughter unless it was via speaker phone or a group text," which is a recognized pattern of coercive control associated with domestic violence. The great-grandmother also wrote that "Scarlett won't have to be raised by an abusive father." While these details do not describe an act of completed physical violence against a partner, the threatening behavior and controlling patterns imply domestic violence dynamics.
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?
Document 2 states that Isabelle, the child's mother, "now takes 16 psychotic and anxiety drugs to get through the day while confronting Scarlett's death." While this refers to the mother's mental health as a consequence of the child's death rather than a contributing factor, it is an explicit reference to the mental health of a parent/caregiver.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerged: (1) Document 3 (mlive.com) reports "there was bloody discharge in her crib and around her body," a forensic detail not addressed by other questions. (2) Document 1 states the detective noted Marsh "made a couple of calls before authorities arrived, including checking on the tracking of a package" rather than calling 911 when the baby was found dead, and that Isabelle "had to run out of the room and call 911" because Marsh refused. (3) Marsh admitted to returning the blanket to his room "in an admitted effort to hide it from the police" (Document 1), suggesting consciousness of guilt. (4) Marsh turned off the camera in the baby's room; he later claimed he turned it off while his wife did CPR (Document 1). (5) Despite a second-degree murder conviction, the county prosecutor J. Dee Brooks stated he "doesn't believe Marsh intentionally killed the infant" (Document 2), creating a notable tension between the charges pursued and the prosecutor's stated belief about intent.
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