Indiana man pleads guilty to manslaughter for beating toddler so badly his heart 'ripped in half'

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (TCD) -- A 27-year-old man pleaded guilty to lesser charges this week in connection with an infant's beating death that caused his heart to rip in half.

WANE-TV reports Shaquille Rowe entered the plea for voluntary manslaughter, and in return, prosecutors will drop charges of murder, aggravated battery, and neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Rowe will likely serve 20 years in prison plus five years of probation, but his official sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12. A judge must also approve of the deal.

According to Fort Wayne Police, on May 17, 2021, a child was transported to a hospital from a residence on the 2700 block of Millbrook Drive. The victim, Aiden Clark, died and an autopsy revealed he died from blunt force trauma injuries to the chest. Fort Wayne Police Homicide Unit detectives took over the case and arrested Rowe.

The Allen County Coroner's Office determined the 17-month-old boy's manner of death was homicide.

Clark's mother reportedly left him in Rowe's care the day he died. According to an affidavit cited by WANE, Rowe claimed he was in the shower when he heard Clark crying. He allegedly said he got out of the shower and saw the boy was not breathing, so he attempted CPR.

Medics, however, noticed bruising around the boy's chest and noted he likely suffered "some type of abuse."

The autopsy reportedly revealed Clark's sternum had been fractured and his heart "was ripped in half."

Other injuries reportedly included a "massive amount of hemorrhaging" due to a torn pericardium sac, a lacerated spleen, hemorrhaging around his kidney and pancreas, and other blunt force trauma.

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