'Stupid baby...stop crying': Utah mom accused of shaking and killing 23-day-old child

"Stupid baby...stop crying."

That is what a Utah mom allegedly said as she shook a newborn to death and now she faces criminal charges in connection to the child's death.

Tawna Steed, 32, was charged with aggravated murder for allegedly killing her baby, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

Medical personnel arrived at Steed’s home on Sept. 19 to find the infant, who was 23 days old, not breathing, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The child died a short time later at the Beaver Valley Hospital in Beaver, Utah, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

The state medical examiner’s office conducted an autopsy and ruled the baby’s death a homicide, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

According to a probable cause statement obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune, a pathologist said the boy had multiple rib fractures that occurred on at least two occasions and two brain hemorrhages, which were likely caused by someone shaking the child or blunt force trauma.

Both Steed and the baby’s father told police they were the only ones who had cared for the child, with the exception of one or two brief times, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Both parents denied they hurt the child, and each said they had not seen the other parent inflict harm, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The father “was very emotional at times, crying and putting his head into his hands” as he spoke to police, according to the probable cause statement obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune.

Steed “never cried or became upset during the interview,” according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Police arrested Steed and questioned the boy’s father a second time, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

He then said he saw Steed shake the baby two different times, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

The first time, he said he walked into their apartment to find Steed sitting on the bed “shaking the baby vigorously...and grabbing it tightly across the chest” while yelling, “stupid baby...stop crying,” the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The father said he yelled at Steed and took the baby from her, and that the child “seemed to be stunned a little but got better” after he took him outside,” according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

The second time, the father said he walked in on Steed standing and shaking the baby, and he again took the infant, comforting him, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

On both occasions, he left the apartment and took the baby to his parents’ house, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Steed was booked into the Beaver County Jail, where she is being held without bail, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. The father has not been charged.