Parents killed their one-day-old baby in hospital maternity room, prosecutors say

A new mother and father allegedly killed their one-day-old baby in a hospital maternity room in Pennsylvania, according to prosecutors. 

Kevin Canaan, 28, and Yennifer Tavarez-Cepeda, 25, are accused of physically abusing their newborn child inside Tower Health Reading Hospital on May 2 in West Reading, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office said. 

Officers with the West Reading Police Department were called to the hospital over suspected child abuse after healthcare employees found an infant boy in medical distress inside a private patient recovery room, authorities said. 

The baby was flown to Penn State Hershey Medical Center to receive advanced neonatal care, where he died the following day. 

An autopsy performed on May 5 found that the child died from ‘multiple traumatic injuries.’ A forensic pathologist ruled the baby’s death a homicide. 

Employees at Penn State Hershey Medical Center informed investigators that the newborn’s injuries were not a result of the birthing process, and consistent with physical abuse. 

The child was being supervised by his parents in the room when the injuries were inflicted, and they did not alert hospital staff, investigators determined. 

Investigators also noted that the infant’s injuries ‘were inflicted within a short, well documented timeframe,’ after hospital staff conducted several wellness checks on the child, prosecutors said.  

Kevin Canaan, 28, and Yennifer Tavarez-Cepeda, 25, have been charged with killing their newborn baby inside a Pennsylvania hospital, according to prosecutors

The parents are accused of physically abusing their newborn child inside Tower Health Reading Hospital on May 2 in West Reading

A criminal complaint was filed against Canaan and Tavarez-Cepeda on Tuesday, charging them with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of children, the district attorney’s office said. 

Soon after, Canaan, of Reading, and Tavarez-Cepeda, of New York, were taken into custody and transported to Berks County Sheriffs Central Processing Center.  

Tower Health Reading Hospital was previously recognized as ‘high performing in maternity care (uncomplicated pregnancy)’ by U.S. News & World Report, according to the hospital’s website.

The Daily Mail contacted Tower Health Reading Hospital and the Berks County District Attorney’s Office for comment.