Baby’s Death Leads to Murder Arrest

BRADENTON, FL — A 21-year-old man faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with the Tuesday death of a baby girl.

According to the Bradenton Police Department, Eric Patrick Neri was arrested Wednesday in connection with Tariah White’s death. The investigation into the baby’s death began when officers were called to Manatee Memorial Hospital Tuesday. Detectives learned that Neri had been babysitting the infant and a 3-year-old child prior to Tariah’s death.

Neri, police wrote in an email to media, confessed to injuring Tariah, who suffered skull fractures.

Neri, police say, is not the baby’s father. He was dating her mother, Tronesh Ackerman, police said.

In addition to the murder charge, Neri was also charged with child neglect and child abuse in relation to an incident involving the 3-year-old, police said earlier this week.

Neri was being held in the Manatee County Jail Thursday without bond, jail records indicate.

No further information is available at this time.

Booking photo courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department/Main photo via Shutterstock