Utah Parents Charged After 18-Month-Old Daughter Dies in Crib Amid Extreme Neglect, Filth, and Lack of Medical Care
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — A Utah couple is behind bars after investigators say they allowed their 18-month-old daughter to waste away in a filthy crib, refusing to give medical attention even as the child’s health deteriorated. The baby’s mother — a registered nurse — allegedly told police she felt “no guilt” over the child’s death and believed it was simply “her time.”
Baby Found Dead in Crib After Mother Refused Lifesaving Measures
According to probable cause statements, Carrie Marie Murray, 31, found her daughter Ruby unresponsive in her crib on the morning of March 19. Despite being trained in medical care, she refused to perform CPR.
When speaking to investigators, Carrie Murray reportedly dismissed responsibility. She initially claimed the toddler might have died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but acknowledged Ruby was “older than typical for a SIDS death.” She then told detectives, “It was her time I guess,” and added that she felt “no guilt over this.”
Both Carrie Murray and her husband, Mitchell Chesnut Murray, 31, have been charged with aggravated murder and aggravated child abuse.
Crib Conditions Described as “Abysmal”: Food Scraps, Trash, Filth
Investigators reviewed baby monitor footage and examined Ruby’s room, uncovering disturbing details. The crib reportedly contained:
- Multiple sippy cups
- Pieces of Eggo-style waffles
- Trash, wrappers, and old food
- A filthy mattress and debris underneath
The room temperature was set at 77 degrees, yet Ruby’s body temperature measured 83 degrees, suggesting the toddler was at risk of hypothermia despite the warm environment.
Police say Ruby was routinely subjected to extended isolation, with her crib becoming her primary environment for days at a time.
Baby Left Alone for Hours; Parents Interacted With Her for Less Than One Minute
Baby monitor logs revealed Ruby was never removed from her crib on March 18 — the day before she died. Mitchell reportedly placed a sippy cup and waffle inside the crib twice that day, and the total time anyone spent interacting with Ruby was 49 seconds.
Mitchell admitted to investigators that Ruby regularly had “crib days” — full days spent inside the crib while he worked. This allegedly occurred once or twice each week.
Footage from the four days before Ruby’s death showed:
- Only six diaper changes
- Ruby outside the crib for six total hours
- Ruby in the presence of another person for less than 50 minutes total
Police concluded she died from dehydration and undernutrition, worsened by excessive heat, darkness, solitary confinement, and sleep deprivation.
Parents Held Without Bond as Investigation Continues
Authorities say the conditions in Ruby’s room, combined with the lack of nutrition and medical care, contributed to her death. Jail officials confirmed Thursday that both Carrie and Mitchell Murray are being held without bond.
The case has drawn national outrage due to the extreme neglect, the mother’s nursing background, and the alarming details found in the baby’s living environment.
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