A Utah father has been arrested and charged with child abuse homicide and child endangerment resulting in death in connection with the death of his seven-month-old daughter. Neal English Colby, 42, was taken into custody on Thursday.
Prosecutors stated that Celia Aurora Colby was found unresponsive on Jan. 17, 2025, in a "very dirty" basement with "red fluid" coming from her. The baby's mother, Courtney Dawn Laird, who is separated from Colby but lives in the same home, had asked him to watch Celia while she slept. According to charging documents, Laird brought the baby to Colby around 2:30 a.m. and later awoke to Colby yelling for her. Upon going downstairs, Laird found Celia on Colby's bed.
Laird reportedly began CPR and called 911 when Colby allegedly refused to do so. Celia died en route to the hospital. Officials have not yet determined a cause of death. Laird has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
According to reports, Colby provided investigators with a different account of events. He stated he checked on Celia hourly until about 8:30 a.m. before falling asleep. Colby claimed he had wrapped the baby tightly in a blanket, but that she had pulled it over her face.
Body-camera footage from responding officers shows Colby vaping while speaking with police about the incident, according to charging documents. Prosecutors noted that Colby exhibited no remorse and only began wailing and claiming ignorance when officers made direct eye contact. The documents also state that a reddish fluid was found near bottles of urine, animal waste, and drug paraphernalia on the mattress.
Investigators discovered several jars of THC wax in a cupboard containing baby food and other children's items. Colby's cellphone, which he claimed was missing, was found in a couch. Court documents indicate the phone left the residence at approximately 3:21 a.m., suggesting Celia was alone and unsupervised for 43 minutes while Colby was away from the home. GPS tracking showed the phone's location to be a known drug area.
An autopsy report revealed that Celia sustained bruising to her right cheek, chin, and nostrils. A child abuse pediatrician reviewing the case suggested that the pattern of injuries could be consistent with an adult pinching the baby's nose shut and that airway obstruction by an adult could not be ruled out.
Prosecutors have requested that Colby be denied bail, according to KSL.