Arrest Made in Death of Maine Infant

According to a press release from the Maine Department of Public Safety's Shannon Moss, the Maine State Police are in the process of investigating the death of an infant.

The press release explains that on Friday (January 16th) morning, a 911 call came into the Penobscot Regional Communications Center reporting that a 12-week-old infant in Orrington was unresponsive.

Orrington Fire and Rescue, the Brewer Fire Department, and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the home to provide aid.

The infant, identified as Lyla Samuels, was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Given the circumstances, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North was called in to investigate.

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As a result of that investigation, detectives arrested the infant’s father, 24-year-old Shawn Samuels of Orrington, on Saturday, January 17. He was charged with Domestic Violence Elevated Aggravated Assault, a Class A offense, along with two counts of Violation of Bail, both Class E charges.

On Sunday, January 18, investigators learned that the 12-week-old had died.  An autopsy was performed the following day at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta.  The cause of death remains tentative pending additional testing.  The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Following the autopsy, Major Crimes Unit North detectives arrested Samuels on a charge of murder at the Penobscot County Jail, where he remains in custody.

His initial court appearance is scheduled to take place via Zoom at the Penobscot County Judicial Center in Bangor on Wednesday, January 21, at 11:45 a.m.

*NOTE - All suspects are considered innocent until being found guilty in a court of law

Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.