Alaska State Troopers reported Wednesday that a mother who brought her deceased 18-month-old into Fairbanks Memorial Hospital three days earlier had been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder after an autopsy revealed the child had died of "blunt force trauma."
An initial report from troopers said that authorities had been notified shortly after 11 p.m. Sunday that the mother had come in with her child, now identified as Julian Swanson-Byrd, who was already dead when the mother arrived at the hospital. The baby was sent to the Anchorage Medical Examiner's office, where "evidentiary information was obtained showing the child had suffered blunt force trauma prior to his death and the manner of death is believed to be homicide," troopers wrote.
Troopers said that the child's mother -- identified as 24-year-old Amber Lynn Swanson of Fairbanks -- had told investigators that on Nov. 29, she had fallen asleep in her vehicle, and awoke to find the passenger-side window rolled down and Swanson-Byrd outside of the vehicle. Swanson also allegedly said that the baby died the next day. Troopers reported that Swanson-Byrd "had been dead for some time" when he was brought into the hospital on Dec. 1.
Swanson was booked into the Fairbanks Correctional Center with arraignment expected Wednesday afternoon.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.