Investigators don't believe Ore. man's story after son dies
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HILLSBORO, Ore. – A 26-year-old Beaverton man appeared before a judge Friday and was charged with murdering his infant son.
The 7-week-old died after he was taken off of life support at a Portland hospital.
Robert Myers said the baby's death was an accident. First he told police he was sleeping with his son, Aden, and rolled over and onto the baby. He said he woke up to find the child wasn't breathing.
But investigators aren't buying his story.
The case surfaced late Wednesday night when Beaverton police officers were called to the King's Court Apartment on Southwest Estuary Drive to a report of an infant not breathing. Myers was home with the baby and his girlfriend, the baby's mother, at the time.
Aden was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital and placed on life support. He was taken off life support Thursday evening, Beaverton police said.
Detectives interviewed Myers again that evening, and he made statements reportedly implicating himself in the death of his son, according to a news release.
Myers' father, Daniel, said he’s still not sure what happened, and his son was hysterical when he spoke to him on the phone in jail after his arrest.
"This was hard, but he's taken responsibility for this," Daniel Myers said. "He's broken up. I didn't know what was going on with the phone system, but I finally was able to talk to him. He asked me to take care of his fiancée. I said, 'You know we are doing that.' He was apologizing to me. And I said, 'You just lost your life.'"
He did not go into further detail about what he meant when he said his son said he’s going to accept responsibility for the baby's death.
He said his son told him he didn't remember what happened and was tired and stressed at the time of the incident. But police said doctors found injuries on the baby's body, including a broken bone that didn't add up with Robert Myers' story.
"I can tell you from all indications the initial account does not hold water anymore. We do not believe that to be true," said Beaverton Police Chief Geoff Spalding.
Police arrested Myers at the hospital after that second interview just before doctors took the baby off life support. They did not reveal what Myers said during his second interview at the hospital.
The baby's mother declined to speak to KATU News. Police were at the Beaverton apartment Friday asking everyone to give her privacy to grieve.
A friend of Robert Myers of more than 10 years said this came as a shock to everyone. Police said Myers has no criminal record.
An autopsy on Saturday will give investigators a better idea of what happened.
If I'm ever in a jam and have to be put on trial for a criminal case, I seriously hope that 'keepthepeace28' is disqualified from the jury pool swiftly.Â
 @todaysnews Oh shut up todaysnews. I wouldn't want you in my corner either. So are you calling Amanda Knox guilty too then because she had an unfortunate circumstance and everyone from here loved her... and guess what- found Not Guilty. Same thing I told Telman, if you don't agree with me fine.. but just because it doesn't sound like a guilty case and I would rule not guilty, to call me stupid or imply it, means you are implying that every person who has ever found a defendant Not Guilty is stupid. You're the one off your rocker! Refer to my Amanda Knox comment- ha.Â
 @keepthepeace28 I wrote one sentence and you can interpret that as me calling you stupid or implying that you are? And your best come back is to tell me to shut up? How original. The reason why I wouldn't want you on my jury is that a juror has to be neutral, not biased, listen in and weigh all the testimony and evidence presented and be able to make a decision based on the facts. You are reading a one page news article and you are already saying that if you are on a jury you would find him not guilty. That makes you a person who is not capable of non-bias, who will not be neutral, who is already jumping to a conclusion before hearing ALL the facts; and therefore, yes, you should be disqualified as a juror. Don't try to compare this case with Amanda Knox. It is irrelevant, and is comparing apples to oranges.
Anyone think that another possibility could be that the mom lost it and hurt the baby and the father loves her so much he'll take the blame?
Are you kidding me- why is he even in trouble, put me on Jury.. I'll rule Not Guilty. I'm serious, it sounds like an honest and very unfortunate mistake. I'm a good person, but I could see it happening, you roll over on your own baby. I mean, I toss and turn in my sleep- do you people not? BS if you say no because most of us do thank you very much. And, now his son would be a VEGETABLE, I mean on LIfe SUPPORT.. come on. I don't blame him at all, and would have pulled the plug on my family member (AND HAVE REQUESTED THEY DO SO FOR ME) If I was ever on life support. It sounds like an innocent, honest mistake and a very sad, unfortunate situation. This guy should not be penalized as it was a total accident, sounds like. Screw the police, they never believe anybody anyway and ACCIDENTS happen. Let this guy go, he's already punished enough with the loss of his kid.. what more punishment do you need?
 @keepthepeace28 You say you are a good person but are you really? I worked a prison ministry for 12 years and it didn't come a day where I heard those same words out of some of the most vile people. I am not suggesting you are vile just realize there is a dark side to everyone including myself.
 @keepthepeace28 Read the whole article: the baby had injuries inconsistent with his story, including a broken bone. I bet the baby was crying, he couldn't get him to stop, so he probably threw or severely shook the baby to get him to stop
If he or his girl friend had fed the child or changed his diaper this most likely would have never happened. Sterilize both so they don't breed again since Ore. and Wash believe that a child under one has no rights as a human they will breed again in no time.
 @Telman@ Think logically what you just typed. If this man is in jail how the hell is he going to "breed" again. He is likely going to get life. Also what does feeding or changing a babies diaper have to do with the death of the baby. YOU MAKE NO SENSE!
Some people should not be allowed to breed in this world....
Sometimes it could simple issue why baby is crying, after trying all the usual stuff, change diaper feed hold, burp, maybe teething, there are things to do to soothe your baby, it really hurts my heart, I am sad over Newtown kids (babies) who were shot we got to stop this.
You can't stop crazy. Throw in some easily accessible guns---and there you go.....
@SandyBeach what do guns have to do with this story?Â
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 @JasonM  @SandyBeach ok.. What are you implying? Look if you are against me I don't care, you can go screw yourself. Like I told Telman, the man showed remorse. He's probably around 200lbs, baby is maybe 9lbs that 191 lbs more.. could he break a hand/leg bone, definitely possible. I don't have to justify it anymore, read my comment to Telman for more information.Â
 @Jalharad  @Willow Exactly, a baby weighs about what, 9 lbs or so. God, finally someone with some sense. 200-9, gee 191 lbs more the dad weighs. You haters do the math- definitely possible. And they said only one bone, they didn't clarify... what if it was a bone on his leg, hand or even ribs? Definitely doable, idiots!
 @Willow  @keepthepeace28 depends on the bone. I could see a leg being easily broken when a 200lb man rolls ontop of it.
 @keepthepeace28 Hard to imagine you could break a baby's bone by rolling over on him, though.Â
 @keepthepeace28  @SandyBeach Hey keepthepeace, I have some ocean-front property in Idaho I could sell to you real cheap....
 @HARMONY 1. 6 and 7 year olds aren't "babies" anymore...
2. What does the school shooting in Newtown have to do with this?Â
@BravesPackersCougzSounders I'm just saying "kids" keep dying for nothing! Don't matter babies, children whatever u prefer ! My kids will alway be my babies I love my kids! I care when kids get hurt , the dad who killed this baby......LOCK HIS A$$ UP! People in jail don't like child murderers or child molesters.
 @BravesPackersCougzSounders  Â
1. You obviously don't have children, nor loving parents.
2. I completely agree.
Wtf I'm so tired of babies and kids getting killed over nothing, walk away, it's hard I got 4 kids and my last baby she a year now had colic for months crying 24/7 you deal with it. I called visiting nurse they help or u call cps your self and they put baby in Temporary respit care so u can have a break obviously that's last resort, don't kill your baby! Be an adult be logical !!
HEAD PHONES. Seriously, put in headphones turn on music, rock baby and just try to relax, make a mental block between the crying and the madness, Easy to do with headphones so you can not hear the screaming, does not change the fact that your holding a screaming baby, But I did that with my kid when he was a baby, I would calm down and then he would calm down. Also, its actually ADVISED and not NEGLECT to put the baby in a safe place like their beds and take a few moments to get it together.Â
I would stick my son in his crib or his swing and go take a hot shower- the 10-15 minutes was enough to calm me down and I could then calm my son down.Â
 @MomOf2 Crib or swing, yes (if I'd tried everything else). 10-15 minutes? No way. Too long. I would go nuts. Babies don't cry just because they like it. There's a reason. Some parents need help is figuring out those reasons. Call a friend, call your aunt, call your mother, your grandmother, but call someone. And cardinal rule number one? Never sleep with your baby! I know it's tempting. But don't. There's an example of what that decision can bring in the Bible. If this warning goes back that far, don't you think there could be some reason to take it serious?
 @MomOf2 Yup, I did that a couple of times with my daughter.
"He was apologizing to me. And I said, 'You just lost your life.'" He did not go into further detail about what he meant when he said his son said heâs going to accept responsibility for the baby's death."
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That's a decent father. No excuses trying to defend the actions of his son. I agree, the kid tossed his life away and deserves to go away for life.
 @what? uh-huh, yeah, ok. So, where was mom while frustrated, stressed dad was rolling over on his baby? I don't see that in the article anywhere?
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 @keepthepeace28  @what? "But police said doctors found injuries on the baby's body, including a broken bone that didn't add up with Robert Myers' story." I really hope this story has just been updated (with the above quote) and that you're not just an ignorant hot head.
 @what? It sounds like his son's intention (at least for now, before attorneys try to change his mind) to man up and take responsibility comes from this father's teachings and example.
Â
I agree the young man committed a horrible crime and deserves to go away for life. But also that it seems he was otherwise a decent man and feels true remorse for his murdered son and the lifelong pain he's caused his family, his fiancee and her family.
 @MargeGunderson  @what? It says that the son did not exactly take responsibility. He lied and said he rolled over on the baby.  The injuries do not reflect that. So he's not really taking responsibility, is he? He's hoping they'll say it's an accident, and let him go.  Â
 @DT Good point. I'd inferred from his father saying, "You just threw your life away," and the unspecified second interview with police, that he has or was going to confess for real, since he likely would see little or no jail time for an accidental, yet careless death.Â
Shaken baby syndrome? So very sad. Prayers go out to the mother and family..infants are just so fragile. Seven short weeks of life :'( RIP
 @SoTweetie No, not with broken bones.Â
 @DT A broken bone doesn't cause death. The broken bone was probably the result of abuse, abuse which also caused brain damage/swelling and eventual death. AKA shaken baby syndrome.
R.I.P. little one. I hope the mother is strong enough to get through this and smart enough to not stay with him. As for the dad, its nice to hear that he admitted it but just because he man up and spoke the truth, does not make him a man.Â
 @Just my say I'm sorry, but the mother was home at the time this was going on.  I'm sure she knew exactly what was going on.  I mean.. look at the guy.Â
Some people are not cut out to be parents. They simply do not possess the mental restraint to keep it together with a crying child. I guarantee you it went down like this: the child was crying and he could not figure out why, tried for hours to get the child to stop crying with no results. Eventually he snapped and killed the child. Sadly this is not uncommon. I will bet you $500 that this guy is also vitamin D deficient.
 @slappywag Vitamin D deficient, what does that have to do with this? You lost me on that.Â
 @Just my say  @slappywag whatta hoot! You're kidding right? Unless this guy came from LA a week earlier he's learned to adjust to low vitamin D here. Most of us have low vitamin D unless we supplement. I've lived here all my life, I have low vitamin D, but I'm not in some zombie zone.  A lot of people are tired and depressed, so what, that doesn't mean anything. It's like saying road rage is caused by lack of vitamin B, come on, be real!  Besides, mark my words, there's more here than meets the eye. He's covering up for something. I'd really like to know more about mom, ya know?
 @Just my say  @slappywag Not saying that Vitamin D deficiency had anything to do with this particular case, but Vitamin D is actually a powerful steroid hormone (not like a regular vitamin).  Deficiency causes all kinds of problems - including mental ones.  It's worth getting your levels checked if you work indoors during the day.
@slappywag @UtterReality @Just my say 30 is LOW normal - one should optimally be 50-80.
 @DT  @slappywag  @UtterReality I get more than enough happiness from the nature, water and trees all around us to justify supplementing vitamin D and staying. Then again, I don't get murderously depressed by our weather even without the supplements.
 @slappywag  @UtterReality  Honestly? I totally hear ya.  But seriously... why don't people just move???  Why live in a place where you have to take supplements or sit by a fake light, in order not to kill yourself or others? Â
 @UtterReality  @Just my say  @slappywag Been there, done that. Mine was really low (like REALLY REALLY REALLY low... like 5.... when 25 is considered normal). I take a supplement. Now it is at normal levels. I feel like a whole different person -- like the me who moved to the land of no sun 14 years ago.
 @Just my say This is the north west. There is no sun. If you are not taking a vitamin D supplement, you're likely deficient. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to depression. Why do you think people in Washington and Oregon all look and act like zombies?
 @Just my say There are STRONG ties between depression and anger issues.
 @SoTweetie  @Just my say It could be a contributing factor. That's the point I was making with the bet.
 @slappywag  @Just my say While that may be true, I think your original comment minus the Vitamin D assumption was more valid. Not all deficient people go around murdering others. But you are otherwise correct about what likely caused the infants death.Â
 @slappywag He did not sound depress to me. He sounds like a guy with serious anger issues.Â