A 22-year-old woman is facing a charge of first degree reckless homicide, in the death of Michael Johnson III.
Brandy Payne is accused of throwing her seven-day-old son to the ground, causing fatal injuries to his head.
The criminal complaint released on Tuesday says Johnson was without a pulse and was not breathing, when emergency responders went to 4413 N 64 St. in Milwaukee last week. The complaint says one of the firefighters noticed the baby’s head “appeared soft and spongy.” The Medical Examiner’s office determined that Johnson died as a result of blunt force trauma.
According to the criminal complaint, Payne gave a statement to authorities, saying that she was at home in the early morning hours of June 13, when she had a disagreement over the phone with the baby’s father. After the fight, Payne allegedly raised the infant above her head and threw him to the ground. The complaint says Payne took the baby to the address where emergency workers responded, because the baby’s father was there. Then, she allegedly left the residence. Payne reportedly told authorities that she did not take her son to the hospital, because she was scared.
If found guilty of the Class B Felony, Payne could be sentenced to up to 60 years in prison.
