Tyla Wharmby, 24, has been convicted of murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent in the death of three-month-old Hunter Hodges. The infant died in July 2022 after suffering head injuries so severe they were likened to those sustained in a high-speed collision or a multi-level fall.
During a trial at Canterbury Crown Court, the jury heard that Wharmby, who was not the baby's biological father, was looking after Hunter overnight while the infant's mother, Shannon Hodges, slept. Paramedics were called around 5:30 a.m. on July 15, 2022, after Hunter's mother became concerned about the baby, who was found pale, unresponsive, and with a visibly swollen head.
Hunter, who was born prematurely and weighed just over 10 pounds, was rushed to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate before being airlifted to a London hospital due to the severity of his injuries. He died later that afternoon following a cardiac arrest. Doctors confirmed the infant had sustained a fractured skull, resulting in significant brain swelling.
Body camera footage played in court showed Wharmby attempting to explain the events to an officer. He claimed he woke up to the baby screaming, noticed swelling on the back of the infant's head, and took him to his mother, after which they called an ambulance. However, digital forensic evidence later established that Wharmby had misled the police about the sequence of events and had deliberately inflicted a fatal injury shortly before the 999 call was made. Medical experts concluded that Wharmby had previously caused injuries consistent with the baby being violently shaken.
Wharmby denied the charges but was found guilty by a majority jury verdict. During the trial, he admitted to having anger issues and sometimes losing control. The court also heard that Hunter had been taken to the hospital multiple times in the weeks before his death with symptoms such as vomiting, mottled skin, and frequent crying, which doctors identified as symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome. A post-mortem examination revealed the infant had suffered an older brain bleed up to five weeks prior to his death.
Kent Police described the investigation as extensive, involving specialist detectives and complex medical and forensic evidence. Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Adam Marshall stated that the determination to establish what happened to Hunter and secure justice was unwavering. He added that the verdict provides some measure of accountability and expressed gratitude for the resilience shown by Hunter's loved ones throughout the difficult process.
Wharmby is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.