A man accused of sexually assaulting a 9-month-old baby is now charged with murder in the child?s death.
CBS affiliate WOWK reports that 32-year-old Benjamin Taylor was charged with first-degree murder after the girl died of her injuries at a hospital Wednesday. Taylor is the boyfriend of the victim?s mother, but isn?t the child?s father.
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Benjamin Taylor WOWK
He was initially charged Monday with first-degree sexual assault.
A criminal complaint shows the baby, Emmaleigh Barringer, had extensive bleeding. The complaint says the injuries indicated a violent sexual assault, as well as shaking or striking of the face.
Taylor told deputies he took the baby to the basement of an apartment while doing laundry. He said he ?blacked out? and didn?t know how the baby?s injuries occurred.
It?s unclear whether Taylor has an attorney.
The little girl?s family released a statement Thursday that read, in part: ?We would like to assure anyone with any doubt that this crime against an innocent child was solely perpetrated by a monster who had disguised himself as a caring and supporting friend. Emmaleigh?s mother and surviving siblings were victims in this and are guilty only of placing trust in the hands of a ?wolf in sheep?s clothing.??http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Man...395826091.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/news/west-vir...exual-assault/
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- News that baby Emmaleigh Barringer died rocked her family Wednesday, even though they knew early on her brain damage was so severe only a miracle would save her.
"The only way justice is going to be served is if he feels every ounce of pain that he caused her too," explained Danielle Adkins.
Adkins is a first cousin of Emmaleigh's mother. The woman found her daughter on the basement floor Monday at her home in Ripley.
The baby girl was bloody and swollen. Left for dead after being physically and sexually assaulted.
Wednesday, Adkins said that her cousin held her daughter as she took her last breath.
"It wasn't enough that he took her innocence, he had to take her life too."
Investigators say the attack happened at the hands of her mother's boyfriend, Benjamin Taylor.
Taylor will be arraigned on a murder charge Thursday morning, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tony Boggs.
Adkins says that Taylor swept her cousin off her feet.
"You literally would have thought he was a Prince Charming, she was so lit up inside. He wanted to do things with her and he hung out with the kids."
Sheriff Boggs says his department's investigation is not over but the victim's mother has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
He also says that he does not believe any of the victim's siblings were harmed.
Deputies later said they found blankets and clothing covered in blood down there, according to the complaint.
As they handcuffed him, Taylor tried “vigorously” to wipe something off his groin area, deputies said.
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