Father admits to causing death of 7-month-old son in Homestead, police say

HOMESTEAD, Florida. – A Homestead father admitted to fatally injuring his 7-month-old son who was hospitalized with multiple fractures and a brain hemorrhage before succumbing to his injuries two weeks ago, Miami-Dade police confirmed Friday in a arrest report.

Police said the investigation began Oct. 2, when the MDPD Homicide Bureau was alerted to a suspected case of aggravated child abuse involving the infant, who had been admitted to Baptist Health Hospital Homestead in critical condition.

Investigators were first called to the hospital on the evening of Oct. 1 after they said the child had been brought by his maternal grandmother.

Medical staff discovered the baby suffered serious injuries, including multiple fractures and a brain hemorrhage, raising immediate concerns of abuse, according to the report. The child was transported from the home of his father, Daniel Nasir Griffiths, 23, authorities confirmed.

Investigators quickly learned that the child was in the care of Griffiths, who they said had provided inconsistent statements about his whereabouts during the time leading up to the child’s injuries.

Initial interviews with the father revealed conflicting accounts, fueling suspicions that the injuries were not accidental, according to investigators.

Over the next few days, police said the child’s condition worsened and, despite medical efforts to save him, Daniel Griffiths Jr. was pronounced dead on Friday, October 4 at 1:45 p.m. by the hospital staff.

Authorities said a Miami-Dade County associate medical examiner conducted an autopsy on Oct. 7.

The autopsy concluded that Daniel’s cause of death was blunt force trauma and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to the report.

As the investigation progressed, detectives said they worked to gather evidence and piece together the events leading up to the child’s death.

Police said Griffiths voluntarily agreed to meet with police to provide a statement. During this interview, he knowingly waived his right to legal representation and confessed to seriously injuring his son, ultimately resulting in his death, the report states.

According to investigators, Griffiths gave a detailed account of his actions, which he believed were the direct cause of his son’s serious injuries.

Although details of the father’s statement have not been made public, police have confirmed that his confession is consistent with evidence collected throughout the investigation.

Jail records show Griffiths faces one count of second-degree murder.

As of Friday, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond had not yet been determined.