Florida dad charged with manslaughter after 5-week-old daughter died from head trauma, broken ribs

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (TCN) -- A father has been taken into custody and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child after an investigation into the 2024 death of his infant daughter.

On Dec. 2, 2024, 27-year-old Dajuan Patrick took his 5-week-old daughter, Dahlia Siebenhaar, to the hospital, WOFL reports. She was unresponsive upon arrival and never regained consciousness. She was taken off life support on Dec. 12, 2024.

An autopsy showed Seibenhaar had suffered head trauma, broken ribs, bruising all over her body, and retinal hemorrhages from being shaken and held with extreme force, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Her death was later ruled a homicide.

Investigators conducted interviews with people familiar with Seibenhaar’s living situation and learned Patrick was allegedly known to shake and spank the newborn, Law & Crime reports. He allegedly caused Seibenhaar’s fatal injuries, and he was subsequently arrested, charged, and taken into custody in Jacksonville, Florida, according to the sheriff’s office.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said, “The arrest in this case won’t bring Dahlia back or give her the childhood she deserved, but today we’re speaking up for her, because her life mattered.”

According to the sheriff, Patrick is being held without bond in Jacksonville and is awaiting extradition to Volusia County.

MORE: