20 Year Old Mother Arrested in Florida Following Grim Infant Death Investigation

A Florida mother is accused of smothering her 3-week-old baby boy and helping stage the scene to make it appear he died in his sleep.

Crystal Garcia, 21, and the baby’s father, Anfernee Watts, 25, were both charged after investigators said they uncovered inconsistent statements and signs that the home had been cleaned before officers arrived.

The baby’s death was later ruled a homicide.

The case began on Aug. 1, 2025, when Hollywood police and fire rescue were called to a home in the 6000 block of Thomas Street in Hollywood, Florida, after a report of an unresponsive infant.

First responders found the baby in a playpen in a private room and pronounced him dead minutes later.

Law & Crime reported that investigators said the child was lying on his back and showed signs of medical distress. Police also reported a strong bleach smell coming from the bathroom, where cleaning supplies appeared to have been used recently.

Watts initially told police he left early that morning for a job interview in Miami after he and Garcia fed and changed the baby and placed him in the playpen, wrapped in a blanket.

Garcia later gave a different account. She said she fed the infant and went back to sleep, then woke up later and saw something was wrong when she opened one of his eyes. Police said she did not call 911 immediately, and instead waited for Watts to return before cleaning the room.

Detectives said the couple’s accounts changed during the investigation. Police later learned that the claimed job interview did not happen. Investigators also said the two shared a cellphone, even though Watts had told officers Garcia called him about the emergency while he was away. Watts later told investigators he threw away baby bottles and other items from the home, and cleaned bleach residue with wipes while Garcia called 911.

A Ring camera across the street captured Garcia outside the home about 30 minutes before she called police, carrying what looked like a large white garbage bag and a mop or broom, and placing them into a trash bin.

Police said Garcia eventually gave a more detailed account of what happened.

According to the affidavit, Garcia placed a pacifier in the baby's mouth, wrapped him tightly in a blanket, and secured him in a car seat before placing the seat inside a bathtub.

Investigators said she then played lullabies on an Alexa device, shut the bathroom door, and returned to sleep despite hearing the baby crying. Police said she later admitted she was “scared of going to jail” and that she and Watts made up a story to tell officers, before placing the baby back in the playpen to make it appear he died in his sleep. Police said Garcia also allegedly left a voicemail stating she had lied about what happened.

Family members told investigators the infant appeared healthy days earlier, including during a doctor’s visit on July 28, 2025. The Broward County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was suffocation and ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Garcia is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, child neglect, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and giving false information to police. Watts faces the same charges, along with obstruction of a criminal investigation. Both are being held in the Broward Main Jail without bond.

Watts appeared in court Friday in Broward County. Judges found probable cause for the charges and denied bail.