Sen. Seminara Urges Thorough Investigation Into the Baby’s Death
August 28, 2024CT agency was investigating family prior to baby being found dead in Milford motel
Hearst CT
MILFORD — A Connecticut agency had been “involved with the family” of the baby found dead in a Milford motel bathtub last week prior to the death, a state official said in a statement on Tuesday.
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The agency added that the investigation was about four weeks before the baby’s death on Wednesday, according to Jodi Hill-Lilly, commissioner of the state Department of Children and Families.
“Consistent with our standard practice, we have already commenced an investigation to evaluate our work,” Hill-Lilly said. “This review will include our knowledge about the family, supports provided, casework decisions, adherence to policy and best-case practices, as well as communication with multiple community stakeholders who were involved with the family.”
Hill-Lilly said the agency also was working with the Milford police to investigate the death.
Milford police said the baby was found dead inside a room at the Mayflower Motel in the 200 block of Woodmont Road in the morning hours by staff.
The same day, officers identified and took a “person of interest” into custody, police said. The department identified the man as 31-year-old Dale Kirkland, and added he was found at a Bridgeport streetcorner.
The baby was his three-month-old daughter, Leilani Kirkland, according to court documents and the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. An autopsy did not immediately determine the infant’s cause of death and more studies are needed, a spokesperson for the medial examiner said.
He is charged with risk of injury to a child and cruelty to persons.
“These are extremely serious allegations, about as serious as you can get,” Judge Auden Grogins said during Kirkland’s arraignment last week before holding him in lieu of $1 million bail and continuing the case to Aug. 28.
“This matter is still under investigation,” Assistant State’s Attorney Alanna Paul said in court. “It involved the loss of life of an infant child. The defendant was the last person to see that child alive, was the last person near that child. He checked into the motel with that infant and checked out of the motel without that infant.”
“There will likely be additional charges coming,” the prosecutor said.
Senior Assistant Public Defender Jeffrey LaPierre noted his client had no prior criminal record and asked that a competency evaluation be done for Kirkland and asked Grogins to place the 31-year-old on suicide watch while he is incarcerated.
“We’ll be reviewing the case and defending him vigorously as the case goes forward,” LaPierre said after the hearing.
Kirkland was seeking full custody of the child based on her mother’s mental health, family court documents stated. He had notified the state Department of Children and Families of the situation, according to custody papers he filed in court in late July.
State Sen. Lisa Seminara, R-8th District, a ranking senator on the Committee on Children, called the incident “heartbreaking” and urged investigators to conduct a thorough investigation into the baby’s death.
“Our prayers go out to this baby’s loved ones,” Seminara said.
