A Kentucky man has pleaded guilty to murder nearly three years after an argument with his children’s mother ended in the death of his 9-month-old daughter. Syied Malik-Kawon Epps, 31, entered the plea following the July 2023 incident in Lexington, Kentucky. In light of the guilty plea, authorities have recommended a 25-year prison sentence.
The incident occurred on July 26, 2023. Lexington Police Department officers responded to a local home after receiving reports of a 9-month-old girl, identified as Sy’kia Epps, who had been brought to a hospital with life-threatening brain trauma.
According to court testimony from Lexington Police Detective Paul Hogan, Epps initially told officers that his daughter had been injured while in the care of a babysitter. However, Hogan noted that Epps “couldn’t provide last name, phone number, anything other than a physical description” for the alleged caretaker.
Investigators subsequently reviewed home security camera footage, which placed Epps at the scene during the timeframe of the injury. Authorities also interviewed three other children who were present in the home.
“All three stated that Mr. Epps had dropped their sister on her head,” Hogan testified. “One articulated … ‘Daddy smashed her on her head really hard and she was upside down.'”
Further investigation revealed that Epps and the children’s mother were engaged in a phone argument while she was at work. During the dispute, Epps made threats regarding the children. According to Hogan’s testimony, “he stated he needed to come get her ‘roaches,’ referring to the children, and that if she was home one minute late from work, they would be waiting out on the porch.”
Epps was arrested on July 27, 2023, and initially faced assault charges. The charges were upgraded to murder four days later following the death of the infant.
Epps is currently held in custody on a $1 million bond. Court records indicate that if he is released on bond prior to his sentencing, he is prohibited from having any contact with the victim’s family. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for the morning of July 1.
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