GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – 21-year-old DeShawn Threats is facing a charge of 2nd degree child abuse after his two-year-old daughter, Zaeyana, was found unresponsive at a home in the 600 block of Fourth Street NW on Wednesday morning.
Despite efforts to revive the two-year-old, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15th and those results could dictate whether additional charges will follow.
Around 9:00 AM Wednesday, Aug. 14th is when the first call for help for Zaeyana came into 911 dispatch.
One witness, who didn’t want to be identified, described what he saw when paramedics first arrived and brought the two-year-old out on the front lawn of the home.
“I saw the little girl on the ground while they were doing CPR on her,” the witness said. “They couldn’t revive her.”
Despite the efforts of first responders, Zaeyana’s life couldn’t be saved. Police roped off the home with crime tape and began investigating what they are calling a suspicious death.
Police said there was evidence at the scene that would lead them to believe the child did not die from natural causes.
The child’s father, Threats, was originally arrested for outstanding warrants and would later be charged with child abuse.
According to court records Threats has a criminal past and history of domestic violence dating back to 2010.
In March of 2012, he pleaded guilty to felony domestic offenses and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
We have also learned through court records the child’s mother has filed at least two personal protection orders against Threats.
The latest was filed in June of 2013. Police say both the mother and father were home with Zaeyana when she was found unresponsive.
Police question both parents but said the mother is not considered a suspect at this time.
