A GoFundMe campaign has begun for the mother of an infant whose father is charged with her savage killing.
The fundraiser, with a goal of $17,500, is designed to help Leah Collins, the baby’s mom.
“Honoring baby Lyla support for the Collins family, the website says.
The campaign had raised $10,500 as of Sunday.
“Our hearts break alongside baby Lyla’s mom, Leah, and the Collins family who are currently walking through a tremendously dark and difficult time,” said family friend Jeremy Boutot. “They are filled with unimaginable grief and sorrow at the sudden and tragic loss of beautiful baby Lyla.
“This family is loved by so many people,” Boutot says. “They would never ask for this type of support on their own but we refuse to allow them to suffer alone or assume this burden without the support of their friends, family, and community.”
Lyla died January 18 from multiple injuries, according to police.
Her father, 24-year-old Shawn Samuels, is charged with murder in her brutal death.
A Penobscot County judge set Samuels’ bail at $250,000 during his first court appearance Wednesday.
An autopsy showed that the 12-week-old baby suffered multiple broken ribs, brain swelling and other injuries.
Samuels was the only person with Lyla on January 16, when cops showed up to a 911 call of an unresponsive infant, because it was the first day her mother returned to work after maternity leave, according to a police affidavit.
Samuels reportedly told police he was feeding the baby when she stopped breathing and became unresponsive.
He denied that he had shaken, dropped or hurt the little girl, police said.Samuels insisted the only explanation for her injuries was his previously bouncing Lyla up and down on his knee and swinging her side to side in his arms, according to the affidavit.
