State Police arrested 24-year-old Shawn Stephen Samuels of Orrington on Sunday after he allegedly murdered his 12-week-old daughter in a domestic violence incident.
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On Friday morning, the Penobscot Regional Communications Center received a call reporting an unresponsive 12-week-old infant, Lyla Samuels.
Orrington Fire and Rescue, the Brewer Fire Department, and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the residence.
The infant was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
Because of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit responded to investigate.
As a result of the investigation, they arrested the infant’s father, Samuels, on Saturday on charges of domestic violence, aggravated assault, and two counts of violating conditions of release.
The next day, detectives learned that the infant had tragically died in the hospital. An autopsy determined the manner of death to be homicide.
Police then arrested Samuels again for murder while he was already at the Penobscot County Jail, where he remains pending his initial court appearance via Zoom, set for January 21.
Police will release more information as it becomes available.
