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

Woman accused of trafficking to minors arrested for assault

A 35-year-old woman who said she identifies as a… Continue reading

Clallam Bay man faces trial on child porn charges

Colby C. Underwood-Moore, 33, of Clallam Bay faces a… Continue reading

Port Hadlock man arrested after alleged assault, standoff

A 49-year-old Port Hadlock man is scheduled for a… Continue reading

One youth involved in City Pier assault sentenced to juvenile hall

Boy receives up to nine months; other set to appear Dec. 7

Hill trial delayed on third occasion

Four- to five-week session now in June

Woman sentenced for providing drugs to prison inmate who died

She pleads guilty to felony controlled substances homicide

Rental truck thief sentenced to 41 months

A Port Angeles man who pleaded guilty to seven… Continue reading

Sequim man awaiting evaluation after child rape charges

A Sequim man facing five first-degree child rape charges… Continue reading

Clallam County agrees to sell property that was seized in 2022

Parcel confiscated after investigation of pot growing operation

Accused murderer pleads not guilty

Sequim woman to be back in court Dec. 12

Sequim woman declared competent to stand trial

Woman accused of attempted murder of her kids

Wanted woman jailed after string of burglaries

Stolen mail among potential charges