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A Utah father was charged with killing his baby daughter after reportedly leaving her alone for nearly an hour in his basement littered with drugs.
Neal English Colby, 32, was cuffed on first-degree child abuse homicide and child abuse charges over the death of his nearly 7-month-old daughter, Celia Aurora Colby, in 2025, according to local outlet KSL.
Officers rushed to Colby’s home in Murray on the morning of Jan. 17, 2025, and discovered the infant’s mother performing CPR on her in an unfinished basement, the outlet reported.
The baby was taken to the hospital but died in the ambulance, according to authorities.
The infant’s unidentified mother, who was separated from Colby but lived in the same house, claimed that she, her young son, and Celia had come down with the flu, the outlet reported.
After the infant began showing symptoms, the mother gave her children’s Tylenol and made an appointment with her pediatrician later in the day.
She handed Celia to Colby to watch at 2:30 a.m., stating she needed to get sleep, the outlet said.
She was terrifyingly awoken to Colby yelling for her and ran to find the baby girl face up with “red fluid coming out of her,” according to court documents.
“(She) stated she immediately began performing CPR and had to call 911 at the same time because Colby would not call,” court papers said.
When cops arrived, Colby allegedly showed “no remorse” and was vaping when officers weren’t looking — and an investigation revealed that he had left the home around 3:20 a.m. to visit a known drug hangout in Murray, abandoning Celia in the basement for 43 minutes.
Detectives “located reddish-colored fluid on a dark colored blanket on the mattress downstairs, along with bottles of urine near the bed,” as well as drugs and drug paraphernalia, the documents added.
The Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office found the baby with unexplained “abrasions along her nasal alae, right cheek, and around her chin.”
The abrasions on Celia’s nostrils were also “highly concerning,” and the pattern of injury can be seen when a caregiver pinches a child’s nose shut.
“The conditions that (she) was found in were harmful and potentially dangerous including human waste, animal waste and illicit drugs,” a child pediatrician who reviewed the case warned.
Celia’s manner of death was certified as “could not be determined,” although an asphyxia death could not be ruled out, according to court documents.
Meanwhile, the baby’s obituary chillingly described her death as a sudden “tragic accident” at home.
“Celia’s bright, energized spirit sparkled with such joyful love,” it read.
“Celia’s favorite place to be was outdoors, on Mommy’s or Daddy’s laps, in the stroller, on a blanket in the sunny shade, where the wind was tickling the leaves overhead and the birds were singing!”
The alleged deadbeat dad was booked in Salt Lake County Jail and is being held without bail pending trial, KSL reported.
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