Baby still hospitalized after Monday disturbance
Published 5:00 am Wednesday, April 23, 2008
A 3-week-old baby girl remains hospitalized at University ofMississippi Medical Center in Jackson after her father allegedlyattempted to drown her in a pond on Highway 84 Monday, authoritiessaid.
Lincoln County Coroner Clay McMorris said the child, whose nameis being withheld, was still in the Intensive Care Unit at UMC asof Wednesday morning.
“As of this morning we still haven’t heard anything fromJackson, so that’s good news,” said McMorris.
The child was taken to UMC by ambulance following an incident inwhich Curtney Gayten, 26, of Bogue Chitto, took her from hermother’s home on Highway 84 during a domestic disturbance withseveral people inside the home. He took her to a nearby pond wherewitnesses say he attempted to drown the child.
Gayten was shot by a Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy who arrivedon the scene as Gayten was holding the baby under the water.Officials said he leveled a gun at the officer, who witnesses saytold him to come out of the water and drop the weapon.
After Gayten was shot, an underwater search ensued withvolunteers, private citizens and officials from the sheriff’sdepartment.
After Gayten’s body and the gun were recovered, Garrett Smith, aUniversity of Southern Mississippi student, found the baby about 20yards out in the water. Two deputies began CPR and chestcompressions and were able to restore the baby’s breathing andpulse.
The deputy involved in the shooting, whose name is also beingwithheld, has been placed on leave with pay pending a MississippiBureau of Investigation probe into the incident. Sheriff SteveRushing said such an investigation is routine after apolice-related shooting.
Gayten’s body has been sent to the state Crime Lab for anautopsy, McMorris said. Gayten’s arrangements, which areincomplete, are being handled by Tyler Funeral Home.