A Utah father has been arrested on charges of child abuse homicide and child endangerment resulting in death in connection with the death of his seven-month-old daughter, Celia Aurora Colby. Neal English Colby, 42, was taken into custody on Thursday.

Celia was discovered unresponsive on January 17, 2025, on a mattress in a basement described by Murray Police Department officers as "very dirty with a lot of garbage and property around the room." Prosecutors allege that "red fluid" was coming from the infant.

The baby's mother, Courtney Dawn Laird, who is separated from Colby but resides in the same home, told investigators that she had asked Colby to watch Celia while she slept due to her own illness. Laird had administered children's Tylenol and had a pediatrician appointment scheduled for Celia. She brought the infant downstairs to Colby around 2:30 a.m.

Laird stated she awoke to Colby yelling for her and found Celia lying face up on his bed with the alleged fluid discharge. According to charging documents, Laird began CPR and called 911 because "Colby would not call."

Celia died en route to the hospital. The official cause of death has not yet been determined. Laird has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Colby presented a different account to investigators. He claimed he checked on Celia hourly until approximately 8:30 a.m. before falling asleep. He stated he had wrapped her in a blanket, but alleged that Celia had pulled it over her face.

Body-camera footage from responding officers captured Colby vaping while allegedly not under direct observation, according to charging documents. Prosecutors noted that when officers made direct eye contact and spoke with him, Colby began to wail and claim he did not know what had happened.

Investigators found a reddish fluid on the mattress, along with bottles of urine, animal waste, and drug paraphernalia. Several jars of THC wax were also discovered in a cupboard containing baby food and other children's items.

Colby's cellphone, which he had reported missing, was found in a couch. Court documents revealed that the phone had left the residence at approximately 3:21 a.m., indicating Celia was potentially unsupervised for 43 minutes while Colby was away. GPS tracking showed his phone was in an area known for drug activity.

An autopsy report indicated that Celia sustained bruising to her right cheek, chin, and nostrils. A child abuse pediatrician who reviewed the case suggested these injuries, while not fatal, could be consistent with external forces, such as manual obstruction of the airway.

An obituary for Celia described her as an energetic child with a deep connection to nature. Prosecutors have reportedly requested that Colby be denied bail.