Cleveland (TCD) — A 20-year-old man was found guilty in the 2022 death of his 13-week-old son, who died after choking on a baby wipe.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office announced that a jury found Traveon Hughes guilty on May 29 of murdering his son, Traveon Hughes Jr., involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child endangerment. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, May 31, and will be sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years, according to Cleveland.com.
Prosecutors said Hughes was home alone on June 25, 2022, caring for her baby, who was born 12 weeks earlier. Hughes told authorities she used baby wipes as her bib and left her son unattended for a while. According to Cleveland.com, there were inconsistencies in accounts of how long Hughes was away. When Hughes returned to his son, he reportedly told him the baby was choking and he called law enforcement.
Emergency medical services personnel discovered baby wipes around the infant's neck while attempting lifesaving measures. According to prosecutors, Hughes Jr. was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Officials later determined that Hughes intentionally sprayed a wet wipe down the baby's throat and his death was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation. Cleveland police arrested him on June 29, 2022.
more: