7-week-old boy's death ruled homicide; father charged with murder
HILLSBORO, Ore. – A 26-year-old Beaverton man appeared before a judge Friday and was charged with murdering his infant son.
The 7-week-old died after he was taken off of life support at a Portland hospital.
Robert Myers said the baby's death was an accident. First he told police he was sleeping with his son, Aden, and rolled over and onto the baby. He said he woke up to find the child wasn't breathing.
Tuesday, Dr. Christopher Young with the State Medical Examiner's office said Aden Myers died of asphyxia due to smothering and compression. Young ruled the death a homicide.
The case surfaced late Wednesday night when Beaverton police officers were called to the King's Court Apartment on Southwest Estuary Drive to a report of an infant not breathing. Myers was home with the baby and his girlfriend, the baby's mother, at the time.
Aden was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital and placed on life support. He was taken off life support Thursday evening, Beaverton police said.
Detectives interviewed Myers again that evening, and he made statements reportedly implicating himself in the death of his son, according to a news release.
Myers' father, Daniel, said he’s still not sure what happened, and his son was hysterical when he spoke to him on the phone in jail after his arrest.
"This was hard, but he's taken responsibility for this," Daniel Myers said. "He's broken up. I didn't know what was going on with the phone system, but I finally was able to talk to him. He asked me to take care of his fiancée. I said, 'You know we are doing that.' He was apologizing to me. And I said, 'You just lost your life.'"
He did not go into further detail about what he meant when he said his son said he’s going to accept responsibility for the baby's death.
He said his son told him he didn't remember what happened and was tired and stressed at the time of the incident. But police said doctors found injuries on the baby's body, including a broken bone that didn't add up with Robert Myers' story.
"I can tell you from all indications the initial account does not hold water anymore. We do not believe that to be true," said Beaverton Police Chief Geoff Spalding.
Police arrested Myers at the hospital after that second interview just before doctors took the baby off life support. They did not reveal what Myers said during his second interview at the hospital.
The baby's mother declined to speak to KATU News. Police were at the Beaverton apartment Friday asking everyone to give her privacy to grieve.
A friend of Robert Myers of more than 10 years said this came as a shock to everyone. Police said Myers has no criminal record.
A crying baby can sure make you lose your mind, hey folks.. walk outside for a minute, take a breather and remember it's a person with a problem with it's only outlet.. And remember, you are the adult..
Very sad story !
With so few facts to go on, it is hard to make any kind of judgment. We were only given enough information to make assumptions.
I'm wondering what part of the man's story they don't believe.  I've been following this case closely, as I know the family.  The broken bone they speak of in the article was a broken rib, which could happen if the father had rolled onto the baby.  Babies bones are very bendable, but 130lbs of dead weight would have broken it!  Also, a broken rib is not uncommon if someone attempted to give CPR to the infant and didn't know how.  As for the cause of death, asphyxiation and compression are exactly what you would expect to see if someone rolled onto a baby.  So, again, I'm not sure what information they are saying doesn't add up with this man's story.  I believe he did roll onto his son in his sleep and he feels terrible about it.  He should be at home grieving  the loss of his child, not awaiting trial for accidentally killing him.
I am a personal friend of this man. He is innocent.Â
So much for trial by the courts eh? Â The investigators are already tainting this case with their "personal opinions" and funneling them to the media.
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"Innocent until proven guilty" Â I thought this was the foundation our Justice System was based on. Â Apparently not anymore. Â I would suggest that people hold off on their conclusions until further developments come to light.
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Common sense would tell us that if it was an intentional murder with malicious intent, he wouldn't be attempting to take responsibility for the child's death. Â This fact alone should tell the rest of us that this article isn't painting this case in a proper light. Â The headline alone incites that this guy is already guilty. Â Such a sham, there have been no formal charges levied yet.
 @Silver Surfer ~ I agree, Surfer... There just isn't enough information out here yet to judge anyone...  and also (and even more important):  "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law"..!
I agree, this is a terrible event, people... but let's let the system work the way it's supposed to... vigilante-type methods don;'t do anything except to keep everyone all stirred up...Â
The article did say that his fiancee[ The mother of the baby].and Robert were living together! They were both home when this happened! Both my boys slept with me when they were infants,and I rolled over on them. I am not a real sound sleeper,though! I do know that this can happen! The broken bone does bother me! Hopefully,the autopsy will determine the cause of that,and anything else. It sounds like the investigators are doing a good job,and doing what they are supposed to be doing!
I too will remain hesitant to predict what actually happened.It seems to me that a autopsy should pinpoint the cause.I do find it difficult to wrap my head around the idea of a 7 week old sustaining broken bones.Not ever having children,I could be wrong here but aren't their bones fairly pliable at that age.It seems that the baby would have to be thrown or shook violently for bones to break? It certainly is a heart wrenching story.
 @noneofyourbizzness Could even have been set down on a piece of furniture and then fallen off of it. It would have to be a pretty active 7 week old, but it's possible. The investigators should be able to make a good guess at what happened from the nature of the injuries.; all we can do is wait for them to complete their investigation before drawing conclusions.
Broken bones? Uh... I don't know what else to think. Obviously the police already did their homework. If this is true, I can't believe how a father can kill his own son. That is so wrong. I feel bad for his father. He sounded so broken heart. God be with you sir.
I really want to hope this was an accident, but if not, I want justice served  in regards to this dad, and even MORE education about parenting to be out in the community and maybe even required for new parents, because the babies deserve a better chance.
 @whirledworld Too many folks seem to think it is OK to sleep with an infant in the same bed and I have to wonder - you are preaching to a select minority that somehow already know exactly how to raise an infant...
 @boned  @whirledworld Women have been sleeping with infants for millions of years, and yet I've never heard of anyone injuring a child that way. I worry about it, but I suspect most people have good enough instincts to prevent them from harming a baby, even while sleeping. My wife's best friend and her husband slept with their newborn and never had a problem with it.
 @El  @boned  @whirledworld Yup, the problems only really happen when you introduce drugs or extreme cases of exhaustion. If those are problems don't co-sleep. Otherwise, co-sleeping really is a great way for everyone to get more and better sleep.
Robert Myers is entitled to a trial. When he is found guilty, or pleads guilty, he should never be free for the rest of his life. There is no more heinous crime than that which is committed against a defenseless child. The death penalty would be in order but King Kitzhaber wouldn't allow it.
 @I812 But, but, but it is OK to have your infant in the same bed as espoused by too many.Â
RIP, little Aden... 7 weeks old is just too young to have your life ended... sad on all levels...Â
I'm reserving any opinion about the father until there is more information, eg: from an autopsy, which I'm sure they will be doing... Â
The baby had previous broken bones. The police know what they are doing!Â
 @Just Me how do you know this info?
 @whirledworld It turned out to be an old injury, but gave BPD PC to arrest him even before they know the results of the autopsy. It was an infant and any PD would have done the same thing. Let the Grand Jury sort it out...
 @Just Me  @boned No one should be suffering from broken bones anywhere in his or her body, unless something has happened: (murder, accidents, CPR, certain diseases, etc.)
 @Just Me  @OSUx2 An autopsy is what will give actual information.
 @OSUx2 I am in the medical field, and a child with a condition such as you speak, is very rare. This case screams of abuse and murder.Â
Actually, there are infantile ailments that cause a child to have exceptionally brittle bones that break very easily and mimic what appears to be abuse. Uncommon, but not untrue.
 @boned  @whirledworld A 7 week old infant should not be suffering from any broken bones any where in its little body. Â
 @whirledworld  @Just Me Uh, its in the video from the police report. Typical case of ongoing child abuse ending in this poor infants death.Â
 @Just Me Only >>read<< the story. Video is different?
There is no good reason, what so ever, Â for an adult to be sleeping with a baby, especially one this young. Â None period. Â Doing so just proves you are an unfit parent and don't care what may happen to your child. Â The baby can be crushed or suffocated and the parent won't even realize it. Â
 @boomer I slept with both my children when they were infants.  Especially when they were done nursing. this does not mean you are an unfit parent.  do you have kids?  if not, shut your pie hole and quit passing judgement.  Robert was a very proud daddy.  I know him personally.
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 @boomer That's crap. I slept with cats on my bed all my life, and both my kids when they were babies. Never once rolled over on a single living being. Even asleep your sense of touch is working and you know if something is against you. Not to mention heightened senses overall once you become a parent and you are aware of every breath and movement.
 @boomer You are one uneducated individual! Obviously you haven't ever been a parent. If you were and NEVER co-slept then I'll just say I'm glad I'm not your child! It's been proven time and time again that co-sleeping is great for babies and mothers! Not that I'm saying EVERYONE should or shouldn't but to each their own.
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@boomer Read a book. Studies show that sleeping with infants helps promote physical and mental health, giving the child a sense of comfort and security. There are steps to be taken to increase safety when sleeping with infants, however since the evidence appears to be leaning toward a different cause of death I don't think sleeping with the baby was the cause. Too many people buy into these safety tips and forget the human element.
 @boomer I agree, but we are dealing with a very deleted gene-pool these days and a serious lack of education...
Dad was stressed and tired. A 7-week-old baby is still pretty needy, not usually having a set schedule. Chances are that the baby was crying, and dad couldn't figure out how to take care of the baby. He may have lost it.Â
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And that is really, really sad.Â
 @washcomom Murder...
If He accidentally rolled over and killed his son, then He isn't guilty, But if he intentionally harmed the little one then Yes, he needs to pay the price.
Still we as parents are instructed never to sleep with out infants as we can kill them by rolling over and suffocating them.
I want to further add, that I am not going to judge this story until further evidence presents its self. But if the court is going for blood, it is shame and wrong .
IF found guilty, the man requires sterilization so that his gene pool dries up.
RIP little guy.
Am I missing it? Or is there no real proof he killed his son? SIDS?
 @mikeyb123 I don't believe SIDS causes broken bones and other injuries.
 @mikeyb123 He probably admitted sleeping next to his son, then rolling over on him or something like that. The story doesn't indicate the actual charges.. It would be murder if it was a deliberate act, which would likely be easy to prove via traumatic injuries. If this was an accident, it would be a negligent homicide (manslaughter) case.
 @mikeyb123 Read carefully ... "the father made statements reportedly implicating himself in the death of his son"
 @Frogger Still don't see any proof...
 @mikeyb123 Yeah, every DA knows that they have to provide all the proof of the crime when the story breaks to let us pass judgment! How dare they make us wait, we'll have forgotten about this story in 2 hours, and those CSI people get a conviction in less than one so what's the deal here?
 It might be guilt at falling asleep and the baby passed while he was sleeping. That would be an understandable implacation of guilt...
@mikeyb123 @Frogger I agree with you. No proof he did anything. Poor little one :(
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I'll refrain from speculating until more details emerge. However, I do know that a lot of people are excited to have children, but do not realize until they arrive how much work babies are, how much attention they require, how little sleep you get. This is in response to the comment by @blue41brighteyes . I'm sure the man you know would never dream of hurting a child, so let's all wait and see what the investigation reveals. RIP sweet baby.
Is there a mother somewhere? Or did the media just forget to find out?
 @jpk I am friends w/ the babies mother. She is in the picture. Her and Robert were living together
Thank you for adding that. Somehow the KATU story overlooked that little detail. My condolences to the family.