Mom’s boyfriend charged with sexual battery after 5-month-old baby dies

EMPORIA, Va. (TCD) -- A 24-year-old man faces aggravated sexual battery and other charges after his girlfriend’s 5-month-old daughter died last week.

According to Emporia Police, on April 18, officers responded to a call from medical officials at Bon Secours Hospital because of a baby with injuries to its face. Law enforcement officials including officers, detectives, the family violence sexual assault unit, and Department of Social Services began investigating "why this infant was injured due to the seriousness of the injuries they witnessed."

The child, who WRIC-TV identified as Paisley Adams, was transferred from Bon Secours to Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital because her injuries were reportedly so severe. She died from her injuries April 21.

Over the course of their investigation, detectives arrested Shatez Damaur-Quadre Franklin on charges of malicious wounding, aggravated sexual battery, and felony child neglect. He’s being held without bond.

Emporia Police Chief Ricky Pinksaw told WRIC Paisley was "under the care of its mother’s boyfriend for the day" when the injuries reportedly occurred.

Franklin reportedly spoke with detectives, and that same night, detectives listed the charges against him.

Pinksaw said, "When I saw the photos of the child, the victim in this case, I never had seen anything like this, and I don’t understand what would possess an individual to do this to a child."

He added, "The crimes that were committed against this baby are appalling."

Paisley’s mom Bronte Adams described her daughter to WVEC-TV: "She was gorgeous, beautiful. She was smart, advanced for her age. She was perfect. Honestly, she was perfect."

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