Baltimore police say a mother confessed to killing her 30-day-old infant last year.
On Feb. 18, 2014, Melody Johnson, the 30-day-old daughter of Damira Latham, suffered fatal injuries sustained while she was at home. An autopsy determined that Melody had suffered injuries prior to her death but medical examiners could not determine if the injuries that killed her were caused by someone.
"Multiple head injuries, both old and new, were observed and noted," a police report said.
The girl's death was ruled "undetermined by head injuries," Baltimore police spokeswoman Lt. Sarah Connolly said.
On May 12, Baltimore police child abuse detectives interviewed Latham, 21, about a separate incident. During the interview, police said, Latham admitted to detectives under Miranda that she had gotten frustrated with Melody while sitting with her at home in the 1100 block of Montpelier St.
"She admitted to slamming the baby down on her legs and the baby's head snapped back, striking a television stand," Connolly said.
Latham told detectives Melody was unresponsive afterward, police said.
On Thursday, based on that alleged confession, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner changed the child's cause of death to homicide by blunt force, Connolly said.
Police arrested Latham Tuesday. She faces charges of first-degree murder, assault and child abuse in the first degree resulting in death, according to a statement of charges from police. No attorney was listed in court records, and a relative for Latham could not be found.
The police report said Melody Johnson was born Jan. 19, 2014.
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