Mother charged in son’s murder allegedly filmed ‘upbeat’ TikTok dance from his hospital room
LAKEWOOD, Wash. (KOMO) – A Washington state couple are facing murder charges after their 7-week-old son died from injuries that investigators say were consistent with shaking and abusive head trauma.
Pierce County prosecutors have charged 19-year-old Alyssa Jade Vanderbeck and her husband, 21-year-old Mark Anthony Labaco Clamor, with second-degree murder. They say there’s evidence the couple’s 7-week-old son suffered head trauma and was shaken before his March 9 death.
Lakewood Police say the baby was rushed to a Tacoma hospital March 4 after Clamor called 911 to report he wasn’t breathing. Doctors discovered the infant had suffered severe injuries, including oxygen deprivation to the brain and brain bleeds, that were “consistent with abusive head trauma.”
“He had some severe injuries that they didn’t know the exact cause from but didn’t think they were accidental,” Police Sgt. Charles Porche said.
When police interviewed the couple, Clamor told them that on the morning of March 4, the baby had become increasingly fussy and started crying. He allegedly said he picked him up “somewhat forcefully,” saying, “Why you crying, boy?” while moving him in a jerking motion.
Clamor told investigators his son’s head “jerked back pretty hard,” and he later acknowledged he realized he had handled him roughly, according to the probable cause declaration.
Soon after the incident, Vanderbeck woke up, and she and her husband took a shower while their son slept. Once they got out, the couple noticed the baby appeared weak, making grunting sounds with irregular breathing. They allegedly said they panicked and shook him again.
Investigators say the couple took videos of their son, who was allegedly struggling to breathe and showing signs of serious distress, and sent them to friends and family, asking what they should do. About an hour passed before they called 911, according to investigators.
The baby remained hospitalized in critical condition before dying March 9. Investigators say on March 8, Vanderbeck posted a video on TikTok showing her dancing in the bathroom of her son’s hospital room while upbeat music played.
After conducting an autopsy, the Pierce County medical examiner said the baby’s preliminary cause of death appeared to be homicide due to abusive head trauma.
Detectives noted during interviews that Clamor was “emotional, tearful at times and appeared exhausted.” He said he was stressed due to “finances, housing, unemployment, and exhaustion from childcare.”
The parents are being held on $1 million bail.
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