Forks baby dies after alleged assault

Charges may be upgraded to murder

TACOMA — A Forks baby who was airlifted to a Tacoma hospital after she was assaulted early Thursday has died, Port Angeles police said.

Faye River Raven Yates, who was less than 7 weeks old, died Sunday at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, Deputy Chief of Police Jason Viada said.

Her father, Izaiah Jamal Calloway, 20, of Forks was arrested Thursday on investigation of first-degree assault with domestic violence for allegedly squeezing the crying infant and throwing her against a chair.

Calloway is being held in the Clallam County jail on $750,000 bail.

“I anticipate that the charges against Mr. Calloway will be upgraded to murder at his next court date,” Viada said Monday.

The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is expected to charge Calloway at 1 p.m. today.

Calloway allegedly confessed to the assault in an interview with Tacoma police, court papers said.

Port Angeles police were assisting in the investigation as part of a major incident response team.

Calloway said he woke to feed Yates at about 1 a.m. Thursday and became frustrated because the baby would not stop crying.

Calloway told investigators he slapped the baby, pinched her nose and held her under the armpits and squeezed, according to the affidavit for probable cause.

According to Tacoma police, Calloway said he threw the baby about 3 feet into a chair that had exposed wood paneling.

“Izaiah said that when he threw (the baby) into the chair, her head struck the exposed wood paneling on the chair,” police said in court papers.

“Izaiah said he heard the head strike the wood.”

Calloway said the baby turned white as he and a neighbor attempted CPR on the infant.

The baby was rushed to Forks Community Hospital, where her heartbeat was revived.

She was airlifted Thursday to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.

Viada said the baby’s survival was “minute by minute” on Friday.

He described the baby’s death as “tragic news.”

Yates was born Feb. 3. She was 48 days old when she died.

Her body will be escorted by law enforcement from Tacoma to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office in Seattle, Viada said.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in Crime

Murder trial date to be reset in August

Defense attorney says he needs more time to review discovery

Retrial of murder case to be set at hearing

State Supreme Court denies reconsideration after it was overturned

Arrest in suspected theft leads to drug, firearm discoveries

A man suspected in a theft from Hartnagel Building… Continue reading

Brinnon man to serve more than four years in prison

Coccia pleads guilty to multiple counts of theft, burglary

Forks man convicted of second-degree domestic violence assault

A Forks man pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic violence… Continue reading

Standoff subject to undergo treatment

Judge signs order to restore competency

Man sentenced to 10 years on firearms charges

A 44-year-old man has been sentenced after pleading guilty… Continue reading

Sheriff’s office says suspect a repeat offender

A repeat offender was arrested this week for burglary, theft… Continue reading

August trial set for robbery suspect

Not guilty plea entered for felony charges from Frugal’s incident

Cox undergoing competency evaluation

Standoff suspect due in court Monday

Sequim police plan to forward charges in school vandalism case

Charges to be determined by prosecuting attorney’s office, detective says