The Fond du Lac Police department says a fugitive wanted in connection to the death of a 14-month baby has been caught.
Twenty-nine-year-old Daniel Antwon Griffin was arrested on Tuesday in Dallas, Texas. The Fond du Lac Police Department cooperated with the United States Marshal’s Office to track Griffin down. Griffin had a nationwide warrant out for his arrest for First Degree Reckless Homicide and two counts of Child Abuse Causing Great Bodily Harm. Griffin is accused of killing one 14-month-old baby and badly injuring the baby’s twin.
“We are glad Mr. Griffin is now in custody and can be held accountable for the horrific crimes he is accused of,” said Fond du Lac Police Chief William Lamb.
The mother of the two children, 24-year-old Airrealle D. Smart was arrested and charged last month in connection to death and child abuse.
Police were called to a home in the 800 block of Martin Ave in Fond du Lac on July 7 where they found the two twins.
An autopsy performed by the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner found the likely cause of death for the infant was a lacerated liver, according to the criminal complaint. The autopsy found broken ribs, bruising and other injuries “consistent with child abuse.”
Blood test results found the the 1-year-old child had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent.
Later in the day, the victim’s twin was transported to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee with similar injuries, including a lacerated liver and broken ribs. The child had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02%.
Investigators say Smart and Griffin changed their stories multiple times. Smart eventually said she witnessed Griffin stand on the deceased infant’s chest and abdomen. She said he had one foot on the infant’s chest and the other off the ground.
Detectives say that is consistent with the injuries suffered by the child that died.
Several videos found on Griffin’s phone show him attempting to frighten the twin babies. In one video, Griffin moves his head within 6-12 inches of the babies and yells “extremely loud,” according to the criminal complaint. Investigators said this caused the twins to flinch.
Investigators recorded a call between Smart and Griffin on July 15 in which Griffin said he didn’t think Smart saw him stepping on the infant, and “if she was so concerned with what she saw she should have said something.”
During this call, Griffin also said that he was no longer in Wisconsin.
Reported by John Kanaly of WBAY and the Associated Press
