My great nephew who was killed last week: killer arrested.
Claudia Koerner and Brent Whiting
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 27, 2008 12:58 PM
A Phoenix man has been arrested in the beating death of his roommate's 8-month-old son who was left in his care.
Tyson Aaron Chamberlain, 30, was arrested Wednesday and booked first-degree murder and child abuse after an autopsy concluded that the toddler's death was a homicide. The child suffered head and abdominal injuries; his hair was ripped from his scalp and his face and hands were marked by scratches, authorities said.
Chamberlain and his girlfriend were reportedly taking care of Easton Lee while the child's mother was out Friday night. The three adults share a home in the 3200 block of West Desert Vista Trail, near 32nd Avenue and Happy Valley Road in north Phoenix, authorities said Thursday.
According to court documents, Chamberlain put the baby to bed around 10 p.m. as normal. Several hours later, Chamberlain said the baby woke up and vomited. Chamberlain said he gave the child a bath, but when he moved to get a towel, the baby slid under the water. Chamberlain claims the baby was injured while he was trying to give first aid, the documents said.
Chamberlain's girlfriend called 911 when the baby wasn't breathing around 3 a.m. Police and fire crews found him unresponsive and he was pronounced dead later at a hospital.
"Investigators arrested Chamberlain based on evidence collected at the scene, interviews with the suspect and information provided by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office," police spokesman Sgt. Joel Tranter said.
enlarge image Tyson Aaron Chamberlain was booked on first-degree murder and child abuse in the March 21 death of an 8-month-old boy, the son of a roommate he was caring for.