Charges – Minnesota Man Admitted Killing Infant Daughter in 2009

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Anoka, MN (KROC-AM News) - The father of a baby who died 12 years ago in the Twin Cities has been charged with the infant's death.

The Anoka County Sheriff's Office says 37-year-old Benjamin Russell of Anoka was charged Friday with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of his three-month-old daughter in January 2009. A news release says Coon Rapids Police responded to a 911 report that an infant was not breathing and the child was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. At the time, her death was blamed on positional asphyxiation.

Officials in Anoka County say Russell was arrested after investigators were notified last Tuesday that he had admitted being responsible for his daughter's death. The criminal charges allege he told the deceased infant's mother that he placed a pillow over the baby's face to stop her crying.