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Dad charged in baby’s death

WARREN — The father of a five-week-old girl, who died Wednesday after suffering brain and rib injuries, has been charged with murder.

Jail records show Matthew Wilson, 32, was booked into the Trumbull County Jail at 1:05 p.m. Saturday.

According to information released Sunday from the Niles Police Department, Niles Fire Department and Lane Ambulance responded to 1017 Bellair Court 2:19 p.m. Feb. 10 on a medical call for what was reported as a baby with a heart condition.

The report said the infant, five-week-old Aubrianna I. Wilson, was taken to Akron Children’s Hospital. The next day, the hospital called Niles police to report the infant had possibly been abused. The information triggered an investigation that jointly was conducted by Niles police detectives, Trumbull County Children Services and the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office.

A Niles police radio log for Feb. 11 reported the baby was brought into the hospital with “brain bleeds and rib fractures.” The log said the baby underwent surgery Feb. 11 and was taken to the Pediatrics Intensive Care Unit. According to listings in the radio log, officers also were advised by a hospital staff member that these injuries would have been caused by the baby being shaken or squeezed.

Tribune Chronicle news partner WKBN-TV on Sunday reported, however, that Wilson’s father, Charles Wilson of Minerva, claimed the injury occurred as the result of an accidental fall. According to Charles Wilson, his son had been holding the baby when he tripped on a toy and accidentally fell on the infant.

“And he went on top of her. He got up, she got up. He rubbed her and checked her, and everything seemed that it was all right,” Charles Wilson told WKBN-TV.

Charles Wilson said, however, the baby’s condition worsened the next day.

According to police records, Children Services advised the hospital it would be sending an investigator there on Monday, and a Niles officer was going to the hospital to check on the family and complete a report.

The Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home in Niles confirmed that Aubrianna Wilson died Wednesday at the Akron hospital.

The news release said Niles detectives on Saturday went to a location in Minerva to arrest Matthew Wilson, identified by police as the infant’s father.

Jail records show that no bond has been set for Wilson. The case was filed Friday in Niles Municipal Court. The court record shows no hearing has yet been scheduled for Wilson, but is not expected until at least Tuesday because courts and public offices are closed today due to the Presidents Day holiday.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com

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