Adrian Lyons: Dad charged with murder as autopsy of baby girl reveals brain injuries months after both parents were accused of child abuse
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
IREDELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA: An autopsy report of an infant's death revealed the cause of death as blunt force trauma from an assault. Months after the infant was taken to a hospital as the girl following brain trauma, her 26-year-old father has now been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his daughter.
With a history of abuse, the North Carolina father Adrian Rashaun Lyons faced a murder charge while he and his wife Calinda Steinseifer were charged with felony child abuse. On Thursday, February 23, the Iredell County Sheriff's Office stated that severe brain injuries were the cause of death of the infant according to the autopsy and indicated Lyons as the person behind the alleged abuse, reported Law and Crime.
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How did investigators conclude Lyon committed the murder?
On September 18, 2022, when the infant was receiving CPR and remained unresponsive, the deputies were called to a residence in Mooresville-area on Teeter Rd. According to the investigators, the North Carolina father then dialed 911 claiming that for 30 minutes, he found the baby limping after she was fed and put down to sleep. The mother told the investigators that as she woke up, Lyons told her the infant had to be rushed to an emergency room.
After the infant victim was taken to the facility, medical professionals found "unaccidental" brain swelling and hemorrhages. Detectives then claimed that Lyons' admitting the baby's head previously hit also helped in deriving a conclusion.
In the statement by the sheriff's office, it was stated that "After receiving this information, Investigators re-interviewed both Lyons and Steinseifer. Adrian Lyons admitted running into a door and striking the infant’s head approximately two weeks prior," and added, "He went on to say the baby would not eat, was crying a lot and twitching. Calinda Steinseifer admitted to knowing about the incident but did not seek medical attention for the infant for fear of getting in trouble."
Lyons' history of abuse
According to the news outlet, Lyons was a laborer in Statesville while Steinseifer is unemployed. The murderer has previously been charged with intentional child abuse. He caused serious bodily injury to the child. As per previous records found by the sheriff's office, Lyons was convicted in a felony child abuse case in 2019 in neighboring Davie County. Law and Crime reported that while he was arrested for the death of his infant, he was under community supervision. He currently remains at the County Detention Facility Iredell is again set to appear in court on March 15.
