Two Lakewood parents are accused of murdering their 7-week old son.
Pierce County prosecutors charged Mark Anthony Labaco Clamor, 21, with two counts of second-degree murder and Alyssa Jade Vanderbeck, 19, with one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of their infant son, Nakoa Michael Clamor.
The couple appeared Thursday, March 12, in Pierce County Superior Court, where a judge set bail at $1 million for each defendant.
The charges follow the baby’s death Monday, March 9, at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, according to court records.
Emergency Call
The infant was rushed to the hospital Wednesday, March 4, after Clamor called 911 to report that the baby was not breathing, according to court filings.
Medical staff discovered severe injuries, including brain hemorrhaging, an anoxic brain injury, retinal hemorrhages, and possible healing rib fractures, according to a probable cause statement.
A physician specializing in child abuse intervention told investigators the injuries were consistent with abusive head trauma.
Investigators wrote that Clamor told detectives he had been feeding the baby when the child became fussy. Clamor said he picked the infant up and made a forward-and-backward “jerking motion,” and that the baby’s head “jerked back pretty hard,” according to court documents.
Clamor later acknowledged to investigators that he believed he had handled the child roughly, according to the filing.
Delay In Calling For Help
According to investigators, Vanderbeck told detectives that after she and Clamor finished showering, the baby appeared distressed and was making abnormal grunting sounds.
Court records say the parents attempted to burp the infant and rub his stomach while trying to determine what was wrong.
Investigators wrote that the couple recorded videos of the baby and contacted friends and family for advice while the infant appeared to struggle to breathe.
Approximately 30 to 60 minutes passed before the parents called for emergency help, according to investigators.
Detectives later obtained the videos from the parents’ phones. According to investigators, the recordings show the infant having difficulty breathing and displaying abnormal eye movements.
According to investigators, Vanderbeck also posted a video to TikTok on Sunday, March 8, showing her dancing in the bathroom of the infant’s hospital room while music played in the background.
Autopsy Findings
An autopsy by the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office found intracranial and spinal hemorrhaging as well as rib fractures. The preliminary cause of death appeared to be homicide due to abusive head trauma, officials said.
The case remains under investigation by the Lakewood Police Department.
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