Death Penalty Sought in Case of Fatal Baby Toss

Posted: 2009-06-19 14:12:51

Filed Under: Top News

Photo by Martha Rial, AP

TAMPA, Fla. - Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a 21-year-old man accused of throwing his ex-girlfriend's baby out of a car on a Florida highway, killing the infant.

Richard McTear Jr. has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges.

Assistant State Attorney Jalal Harb told a court hearing Wednesday that the state will pursue the death penalty if McTear is convicted. Prosecutors say McTear argued with his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend, Jasmine Bedwell, in May and threw the infant down on concrete. They say McTear then grabbed 4-month-old Emanuel Wesley Murray, drove off in his Chevrolet Impala with the child and threw him out of the car on a highway north of downtown Tampa. McTear is not the child's father.

The child was found on the roadside by a journalist.

Jason Bird, a news photographer for WTVT-TV in Tampa, spotted the baby’s body on his way to work at about 4:30 a.m. on May 5.

“On the side of the road, I saw something out of the corner of my eye and at first I thought it was a baby doll, and then as I was thinking about it more I thought that was awfully big for a doll,” Bird said in an earlier interview.

McTear has previously been arrested on charges including felony battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic battery by strangulation. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, McTear was sentenced to two years probation in June 2008 on a felony battery conviction. An arrest warrant was issued when he failed to report.

Last month, Bedwell sought an injunction against McTear for domestic violence, but the case was dropped because she didn’t appear in court.

In court papers, Bedwell said McTear was violent, often armed and had a drug problem. She said he had forced his way into her apartment and beat her.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2008-05-04 10:45:12

Bookmark

Feed

White House at Odds with Bishops Over Abortion

The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political... Read More

AP Poll: Tax the Rich to Pay for Health Bill

When it comes to paying for a health care overhaul, Americans see just one way to go: Tax the rich. Read More

Missing NC Girl's Mom Faces Court Appearance

A North Carolina mother accused of offering her 5-year-old daughter for prostitution is expected to appear in court. Read More

Jobless Claims Fall More Than Expected

New claims for unemployment insurance fell more than expected last week, evidence the job market is slowly healing as the economy recovers. Read More

A Grouchy Public Sticking with Obama

President Barack Obama still has the approval of a majority of Americans, but it's an increasingly pessimistic nation. Read More

Feed

More BlackSpin Headlines

Our Lens Sept. 1

Hector Jackson (C), who impersonates the late US pop star Michael Jackson, gestures while he takes part in the "I do dance Thriller" event which attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest mass "Thriller" dance, in Mexico City, on August 29. Up to 15,000 people are expected to take part in a potentially record breaking mass performance of Michael Jackson's famed "Thriller" dance on the day he would have turned 51.

Omar Torres, AFP/ Getty Images

A long line of fire marches west towards the communities of Acton and Sunland-Tujanga on August 31 in Los Angeles, California. At least 18 homes were destroyed and 12,000 more homes and 500 commercial buildings are being threatened in the fire which already took two lives. The wildfire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon near a ranger station and the Angeles Crest Highway above La Canada Flintridge, has forced thousands of evacuations.

Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

Venus Williams of the United States reaches for a shot against Vera Dushevina of Russia during day one of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Chris McGrath, Getty Images

A Kenyan Muslim child reads verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book, on the fifth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a Madrassa (Religion School), in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk.

Sayyid Azim, AP

Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center on August 28, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Discovery is scheduled for a 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Host Vanessa Williams performs with dancer Gilles Marini onstage at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, in Los Angeles, California.

Jesse Grant, WireImage

A girl plays with tomato pulp during the annual "Tomatina" tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Bunol's town hall estimated more than 40,000 people, some from as far away as Japan and Australia, took up arms Wednesday with 100 tons of tomatoes in the yearly food fight known as the 'Tomatina' now in its 64th year.

Alberto Saiz, AP

Tom Wainaina recounts the events that lead to his being burned over most of his upper body August 26 in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Wainaina was burned by a group of men during post-election violence in Kenya's disputed 2007 presidential election. Ethnic-tribal violence left over 1,000 people dead. The non-governmental organization (NGO) Concern, in cooperation with local Kenyan groups, has launched a campaign to provide the urban poor with cash grants to start a business or get back on their feet after suffering disproportionately from post-election violence in 2007. The money is transferred to the recipients via a mobile phone which insures a safe and simple financial transaction to customers who don?t have bank accounts. Wainaina is one of dozens of Kibera residents to receive the assistance of a cash grant. Hairdressers, grocery stores and food vendors are just some of the businesses that have been financed through the program.

Spencer Platt, Getty Images

People standing near the grave of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) look at the grave of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) at Arlington National Cemetery August 30, in Arlington, Virginia. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) was buried yesterday next to his brothers President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) after he died of brain cancer on August 25.

Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images

US President Barack Obama takes out his daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (2nd L) and niece Suhaila Ng (L) to shop in the Alleys general store on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on August 30, 2009.

Jewel Samad, AFP/ Getty Images