Minnesota dad is charged with beating his two month-old baby daughter to death 'then claiming his CAT had caused the infant's horrific injuries by laying on top of her'
A Minnesota dad battered his two month-old baby daughter to death - then tried to claim she'd been fatally injured by his cat laying on top of her, police say.
Kristopher Dale Arlando Henderson, 39, was charged with the first-degree murder of his daughter Adaline at Blue Earth County District Court on Friday.
Adaline was fatally-injured at his home in Mankato on September 23, and died at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester on November 3 after lengthy attempts to try and save the infant proved unsuccessful.
The youngster's mom Shelby Goodrich told cops her daughter was fine when she left her home for work on the day the fatal injuries - broken legs, broken ribs and a brain bleed - were inflicted.
Goodrich fed the little girl, then put her back down to sleep. The woman said Henderson texted her at 5pm to say he'd caught the family's 19 pound cat 'laying' on the baby, with the mom arriving home from work an hour later.
According to Law & Crime, Goodrich was stunned to discover that her daughter's eyes had 'bulged out' of her head, and took the infant to their local emergency room after calling her own mom for advice.
Pictured: Kristopher Henderson, 39, was charged Friday with second-degree murder without intent and first-degree manslaughter while committing malicious punishment of a child
Cops were called, with Henderson allegedly initially claiming to have no idea how the baby was injured, before then blaming the family's cat.
They continued to probe Henderson for answers, who then said he may have been 'a little rough' while changing Adaline's diaper.
During a follow-up interview on October 1, Henderson is said to have admitted that on the day of Adaline's death he had 'cradled the child in his arms and struck her back more forcefully than usual,' according to the Southern Minnesota News.
Adaline's was transferred from the emergency room to the prestigious Mayo Clinic, but was removed from life support on November 3 after being declared brain dead.
Henderson's daughter Adaline, pictured, was fatally-injured in September, and died in November after a six week stay in hospital
Paying tribute to her late daughter, Goodrich told DailyMail.com: 'She was always a very happy baby. When she learned how to smile she would smile constantly and she was never fussy unless she wanted a bottle, diaper change or some cuddles.
'She and I would always have cuddle time from 9-11 everyday when I was on maternity leave and my days off. I couldn’t stop looking at her or being by her side when I was able.
'She was very observant, constantly trying to watch what things were going on around her. She was my world and now my world will forever be a darker place without her.
'She was loved so much in the short time she was with us and will continued to be.'
Kristopher Dale Arlando Henderson, 39, was charged Friday in Blue Earth County District Court with second-degree murder without intent while committing a felony and first-degree manslaughter while committing malicious punishment of a child, according to the Mankato Free Press.
The baby had 'little to no brain activity' before she was pronounced dead earlier this month on November 3, the news outlet reported.
Meanwhile, autopsy results for the infant's death remains pending.
Henderson was still in the Blue Earth County Jail, pictured, as of Wednesday morning, with his bail having increased to $1 million after his charges were ungraded to second-degree
Authorities believe Henderson was caring for the child by himself at the time the injuries occurred.
He was originally only charged with first-degree assault, however the charges were upgraded following the girl's death, just over two weeks after she was hospitalized.
He was still in the Blue Earth County Jail as of Wednesday morning, according to the Free Press.
Henderson's bail has since been increased to $1 million.
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