Midwest City Man Arrested After 2-Month-Old Daughter Dies

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma -- A Midwest City man is accused of killing his 2-month-old daughter.

Jacob Lynn Watson, 25, is being held at the Midwest City jail on a compliant of first-degree murder.

Officers were dispatched to an unresponsive baby Friday at about 10:45 p.m., at 2605 N. Thornton Drive. Officers found Brylee Watson not breathing and began performing CPR. Brylee was transported to OU Children's Medical Center. Upon examination by attending physicians, it was determined Brylee was a victim of abuse, Police Chief Brandon Clabes said.

Doctors found Brylee suffered from nine different fractures including both arms, clavicles, her right femur, ribs and her skull, causing severe bleeding in the brain, Clabes said.

Brylee died Monday at OU Children's Medical Center after having been on life support since Saturday morning.

The baby's mother was at work at the time. When detectives questioned Watson about the injuries, he gave them four different stories.

Watson initially said he laid Brylee down in her crib and checked back on her a few moments later and she was not breathing. He then stated he was carrying Brylee when he tripped over their cat, dropping Brylee to the concrete floor then falling on top of her, Clabes said.

Watson then claimed two black males broke into his house, stole money from him and then physically abused Brylee and another 2-year-old in the home. Finally, Watson admitted to causing the injuries and said he was upset about his deteriorating relationship with his wife and took it out on Brylee, Clabes said.

"These are the cases that pull at your heart. This beautiful baby girl suffered severe physical abuse, probably from the day she was born until her death, and at the hands of someone who was suppose to love her unconditionally," Chief Clabes said. "When you look at the amount of fractures it is unimaginable the pain this child went through—probably more than most people experience in a lifetime."

Watson has a previous criminal record for larceny from out of Cleveland County and engaging in prostitution in Oklahoma County.

The remaining child in the home has been taken into protective custody and the investigation is ongoing.

Andrew Burkhart is the couple's pastor. He said he's saddened by the death and said the infant's mother is devastated.

"She lost her baby and her husband all on the same day which is her wedding anniversary," Burkhart said.

Now prayers and support are pouring in for the grieving mother and wife.

"We're going to get her hooked up with a prayer team that's everyday going to be praying for her for the next few months, and I'm hoping that anything she needs we can meet her needs," Burkhart said.