Fathers charged in deaths of 2 infants in Chester County

Authorities in Chester County have announced charges against two fathers in separate deaths of two infants.

41-year-old Jamal Bailey has been charged in the death of his own ten-month-old daughter. Officers responded to Bailey's home in Downingtown back in April and found the infant unresponsive. She was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.

After an autopsy, authorities learned the child had died from quetiapine intoxication, a drug used to treat bipolar disorder. Investigators revealed Jamal Bailey had a prescription for the drug.

When asked about the presence of the drug in his daughter's system, Bailey told officers that the baby was not a good sleeper, and her sleeping habits were making him tired, along with his prescription.

Bailey denied giving the child the drug, explaining that she may have gotten into the bottle from her crib, he may have inadvertently mixed the drug into her formula, or the pills may have been spilled throughout the residence.

Investigators say hair samples from the child showed she had first ingested the drug 30-45 days before her death, and a seizure of Bailey's phone showed he had "wiped" it's content after his daughter's death.

Bailey has been charged with third-degree murder and related offenses.

In a second case dating back to December of 2016, William Gardner, 27, has been charged in the death of his four-month-old son.

At the time, Gardner was in charge of taking care of his son while the child's mother worked. On December 7, 2016, officers responded to their home in West Brandywine Township and found Gardner's son lying behind a sofa, unresponsive. The child was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Investigators say the baby had over 15 broken ribs, some of which dated back up to three months, and bruises to the spine and scalp. Medical examiners determined the child was abused severely and consistently over a period of at least three months.

Police interviewed witnesses who say Gardner had called them on the day of the child's death and reported that something was wrong with his son, but did not call 911. Gardner denied any accidental falls caused injuries to the child and explained he was always home with the child.

Gardner has also been charged with third-degree murder and related offenses.