COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – After a eight month investigation into the death of five-month-old Luna Royer-King, Coldwater Director of Public Safety Joe Scheid announced Thursday that the baby’s father has been taken into custody on three counts in connection with the infant’s death.
28-year-old Coleman Ray Royer is being held without bond in the Branch County Jail on charges of Homicide-Felony Murder, First Degree Child Abuse and Second Degree Child Abuse following his arraignment in Branch County District Court on Thursday.
A probable cause hearing was scheduled for November fifth with a preliminary exam set for November 12th.
A warrant for Royer’s arrest was issued Wednesday by the Branch County Prosecutor’s Office.
The Washtenaw County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed the infant’s death in February was a homicide.
Coldwater Police and the Branch County Prosecutor’s Office have been the lead investigators. They were assisted by the Michigan State Police, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services along with the University of Michigan Mott’s Children Hospital.
Coldwater Police began investigating when they got information on February 13, 2019 that an infant from the city was receiving treatment for serious life threatening injuries at the hospital in Ann Arbor.
The baby was taken there after first getting treatment at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital and then at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.
It was later learned the baby had numerous traumatic injuries. The infant died the following day.
WOOD-TV reported in April that according to documents the station obtained from Mott Hospital, the baby suffered at least nine broken ribs and a broken left elbow. They also reported an MRI found injuries associated with head trauma and according to the doctors medical report, the findings were “consistent with child abuse.”
(Reporting from Jim Measel)
