Milford man charged in death of 6-month-old daughter

Police say man fell asleep on couch with daughter

MILFORD, Mich. – A 25-year-old Milford man was charged Friday in connection with the death of his 6-month-old daughter.

Police were called at 10:07 p.m. Feb. 2 to a home on Hazy View Lane in Milford by a father who said his 6-month-old daughter was unresponsive and cold to the touch.

Police said they arrived at the home of Keith Allen Brown and rushed Sophia Grace Brown to Huron Valley Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Brown and the baby's mother weren't living together at the time, and the mother had left the baby at Brown's home in the afternoon when she went to work, police said.

Brown told police he didn't know what happened, but that the baby had fallen asleep on a mattress on the floor.

Police said Brown appeared drunk and had a preliminary blood-alcohol level above .31.

Medical officials said the cause of death was position/compression asphyxia. Investigators said Brown had fallen asleep on a couch with his daughter between his arm and his body. At some point there was some shifting, and Sophia was unable to breath.

A warrant was issued Monday for Brown's arrest on involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse charges. Police said Brown has a history of alcohol-related offenses.

Brown was arraigned Friday in Novi and is being held in the Oakland County Jail on $500,000 bail. He is also being held for a previous probation violation for an alcohol conviction.


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