Police: Man Supposedly Put Pillow On Baby To Keep Him From Crying

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Aaron Howard (pictured, left), 23, was the only adult home when police arrived, police said.

Howard was arraigned on second-degree murder charges in the death of his infant son, LeeAarion Howard. Authorities said the child was found smothered to death Saturday night at the family's home.

According to a statement given to police, Howard said he could not keep the baby from crying, and he said he put a pillow over the child's head and left the room.

There was also blunt force trauma to the right side of the baby's head, according to the autopsy report.

"He was holding the child and slipped and fell, and the child went down the stairs," said Dan Miller, a Jackson County prosecutor.

Two recent cases of children being murdered involve the beating death of 2-year-old Alexis Smothers, whose mother's boyfriend is accused of killing Smothers; and the suffocation death of 4-year-old Deshawn Thompson, whose mother is accused of killing Thompson.

In his police statement, Howard said he became frustrated trying to get his infant son to stop crying, but the assistant prosecutor said that was no excuse.

Howard is being held on $200,000 bail. His next court date is May 6.

To report child abuse or to get help in Missouri, call the Missouri Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 392-3738.

In Kansas, call the Kansas Protection Report Center at (800) 922-5330.

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