2003-05-17

Kyle Jordan Bland, 33 days old, died May 17 of blunt force trauma to the head. Kelsey Lamar Davis, 28, of Amarillo pleaded guilty to murder on Dec. 16 and was sentenced to life in prison.

Man arraigned in death

33-day-old child dies of blunt force trauma

Posted: Thursday, May 22, 2003

The Amarillo Globe-News
An Amarillo man faces a capital murder charge in connection with the death of a baby boy on Saturday.

Kelsey Lamar Davis, 28, was arraigned Wednesday and remained in the Potter County Detention Center late Wednesday in lieu of posting a $250,000 bond, according to jail records. Police arrested Davis late Tuesday after an investigation into the death of 33-day-old Kyle Jordan Bland.

Preliminary autopsy results showed the infant died from blunt force trauma to the head, said Potter County Justice of the Peace Haven Dysart.

A neighbor called 911 early Saturday about a family fight at an apartment in the 3100 block of West 11th Avenue, said Lt. Gary Trupe, coordinator of the Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit. A second call indicated a baby at the address was having breathing difficulties.

The baby went by ambulance to Northwest Texas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

The investigation was complicated by the fact that all four adults in the apartment, including Bland's 20-year-old mother, are deaf. Six children also were living in the apartment. Sign-language interpreters assisted with the investigation. Trupe said child welfare authorities are looking into the home situation.

Bland and his mother came to Amarillo from Fort Worth shortly after he was born, Trupe said. Graveside services for the baby are planned for Saturday in Azle.