North Carolina Dad Accused Of Murder After Autopsy Reveals 5-Week-Old Girl Died Of Blunt Force Trauma: Sheriff

A 5-week-old baby girl in North Carolina died of blunt force trauma, and now the charges against her father have been upgraded to murder, police said.

On Sept. 19, 2022, deputies were called to a residence in Mooresville about an unresponsive infant, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies spoke with the child’s father, Adrian Rashaun Lyons, 25, and mother, Calinda Steinseifer, 29, about what led up to the baby becoming unresponsive.

Steinseifer said she was awoken by Lyons, who told her they needed to go to the hospital because something was wrong with the baby. Lyons told police he fed the baby, put her down to sleep and then went back to check on her 30 minutes later and she was limp and unresponsive.

The infant was transported to a local hospital, where medical staff told detectives the infant's injuries, which included bleeding on the brain and hemorrhages, were not the result of an accident.

The baby girl was airlifted to Atrium Health Levine’s Children’s Hospital in Charlotte for more advanced treatment, but she died two days later, on Sept. 21, officials said.

Police interviewed the parents again, and this time Lyons allegedly admitted to running into and hitting the child’s head against the door two weeks earlier. He also said the baby wouldn’t eat, was crying a lot and twitching.

The mother told police she was aware of the incident, but said she was afraid of getting in trouble and never sought medical attention, authorities said.

Both Lyons and Steinseifer were arrested and charged with felony abuse and neglect charges.

Lyons was being held without bond, while Steinseifer posted her $150,000 bond.

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A full autopsy report showed the newborn baby died from blunt force trauma and the official cause of death was the result of an assault.

Police upgraded the charges against Lyons to first-degree murder, and he remains in the Iredell County Detention Center without bond, authorities said.

Lyons reportedly was on probation for a 2019 felony child abuse conviction and his criminal history includes carrying a concealed weapon, driving after consuming under age 21, misdemeanor possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and improper equipment.