NASHVILLE, TENN. — Youth Services detectives this afternoon arrested Christopher J. Riley, 26, on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse for the severe trauma-related death of a three-year-old girl for whom he babysat on Saturday.
Christopher J. Riley, 26, of Nashville, just arrested on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse for the death of a 3-year-old girl for whom he babysat on Saturday. The child had extensive head & internal injuries – MNPD pic.twitter.com/SnwsRs7Zf3
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 31, 2018
Laylani Rose Stevens was brought to St. Thomas Hospital West by her mother late Saturday night and was immediately transferred by ambulance to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She had suffered extensive head and other internal and external injuries. Laylani died Sunday afternoon at Vanderbilt.
The investigation, led by Detective Chris Bowden, shows that Laylani’s mother, after being unable to arrange for another babysitter, asked Riley, a friend, to watch her daughter while she was at work Saturday afternoon/evening. Her mother reported that upon returning to her Highway 70 home at 10 p.m. Saturday night, she found Laylani unresponsive and immediately drove her to St. Thomas. Laylani’s mother said that her daughter was uninjured when she left for work.
Riley, of Bellevue, told the mother that Laylani’s injuries had been caused by falls. However, doctors found her extensive injuries to be totally inconsistent with falling.
Riley was arrested this afternoon after arriving with his attorney at the Youth Services Division office.
