Tuscaloosa Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend's Baby

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A Tuscaloosa man has been charged with murder following the death of a baby girl who was being treated for injuries at DCH Regional Medical Center.

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Captain Jack Kennedy, commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, told local media on Monday that Tuscaloosa Police initially responded to an unresponsive one-year-old child who exhibited signs of a head or brain injury.

After being transported to DCH, the child was airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, where an examination by medical specialists indicated the injuries were the result of physical abuse.

Kennedy then said it was found that the child had been alone with the mother’s boyfriend, Devonte Crumel, 30, when the injury occurred.

A deposition obtained by Patch says that the child's mother advised that her baby girl was left in the care of Crumel at The Links apartments while she was at a doctors appointment.

Crumel admitted to investigators that he had been alone at his apartment with the child on Jan. 23 when she stated crying.

Crumel reportedly became frustrated and said he attempted to console her.

However, he told police that he went to his bathroom to smoke marijuana after becoming frustrated and returned to see the child laying on the living room floor unresponsive.

An initial Children's Hospital report cited in the deposition said the child became unresponsive within 30 minutes to 1 hour after suffering her injuries, which resulted in severe brain bleeding, an abrasion on her head consistent with contact with a carpeted surface, swollen face and head and bleeding behind her eyes.

Crumel could give no explanation for how the injury occurred, Kennedy said, and he was initially charged with aggravated child abuse.

Kennedy then said investigators were notified Sunday that the child had not survived their injuries, which prompted an elevation of Crumel's charge to murder.

He was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail with no bond on Jan. 24 and remains denied bond for his elevated charge of murder.

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