A father in Florida has been arrested after he allegedly killed his 5-week-old daughter by squeezing her so hard that he broke her ribs.
Dajuan Patrick was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida, on Tuesday, March 10, on a warrant out of Volusia County, in which he was charged with aggravated manslaughter in connection with the death of his 5-week-old Dahlia Siebenhaar.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that Dahlia was placed on life support due to several traumatic injuries before she eventually died in December 2024.
More than one year after her death, Patrick, 27, was accused of being responsible for causing the injuries that led to her death.
Dahlia was first admitted to the hospital on December 2, 2024, after she was found unresponsive. She was put on life support due to the severity of her injuries and she never regained consciousness. She was ultimately taken off life support on December 12, 2024, and died from her injuries.
Police said that Dahlia suffered from “extensive head trauma, broken ribs, bruising across her body, and retinal hemorrhages due to being shaken and held with extreme force,” according to medical records and an autopsy.
An investigation was launched into Dahlia’s death and officers spoke to several people with knowledge of the child’s living situation. Police learned that Patrick was known to shake and spank the newborn, and they concluded that he was the one who caused the fatal injuries.
Patrick was arrested while in Jacksonville and is currently being held in custody without bond at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
It is not currently clear if Patrick has entered a plea or retained legal representation following his arrest.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood reflected on the case in the release. “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,” he said.
Police also shared Chitwood’s mugshot, which showed him donning a serious expression as he sported blue hair.
In addition to sharing news of the arrest in the press release, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office also uploaded the information in a Facebook post. Shortly after police shared the details of the case and Patrick’s mugshot, several people took to the comments section to weigh in on the case.
“Anyone who has seen/held a 5-week-old baby knows how tiny and helpless they are. There’s absolutely no excuse for this behavior,” one person commented, while another chimed in, “My heart hurts so bad seeing this.”
One person said that the baby’s death made their “blood boil,” and another social media user commented, “My heart goes out to Dahlia’s family and loved ones.”
If Patrick is found guilty of the aggravated manslaughter charge, he could be sentenced to serve up to 30 years in prison and would be subject to a $10,000 fine, according to Leppard Law. However, the law firm noted that the exact sentence can vary, depending on the specific details of the case — including the defendant’s criminal history and the degree of negligence involved in the victim’s death.
