TILLICUM, Wash. — On Oct. 6 West Pierce Fire responded to a Tillicum home for a 15-month-old girl not breathing, according to Lt. Chris Lawler with Lakewood Police Department. Responders transported the child to a local hospital in grave condition with suspicious injuries.
Neither of the parents agreed to give statements to on-scene investigators.
The toddler was later pronounced brain dead and taken off of life support on Oct. 9. After an autopsy was performed the medical examiner ruled the child's death a homicide, according to Lawler.
The investigation led to the several search warrants being issued and the arrest of the child's father, who police identify as 42-year-old Matthew Gantt.
According to the Pierce County medical examiner, the cause of death was blunt force injury to the head.
He was booked into the Pierce County Jail today, according to Lawler.
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