Carbon County Man Pleads Not Guilty to Deliberate Homicide of Infant
By Denise Rivette
Brandon Lee Head Carrier, 24, of Carbon County, appeared in custody via video for arraignment Wednesday in Carbon County District Court in front of the Honorable Matthew J. Wald on charges of assault on a minor and deliberate homicide, both felonies. He pleaded not guilty. The charges stem from events that occurred on the morning of December 13 after a baby in distress was reported to Carbon County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Dispatch. Responding to that call were CCSO personnel, Joliet EMS and, eventually, the St. Vincent Help Flight helicopter. The child died a few days later.
According to court documents, on December 13 at approximately 7:47 in the morning, CCSO Dispatch received a 911 call reporting an approximately one-month-old baby that was non-responsive and not breathing. First on the scene was CCSO Detective Ben Mahoney who was met outside the residence by the baby’s mother who brought him inside the house where relatives were trying to resuscitate the child. Mahoney assisted in administering CPR and determined that the baby had good color, did not have an apparent breathing obstruction, but showed no signs of life. Shortly after this determination, CCSO Sergeant Kelly Carrington arrived with medical supplies including a bag valve mask. Together they took over life saving measures until Doug Whitehead, P.A., a volunteer with Joliet EMS, arrived. Whitehead then intubated the infant and connected oxygen.
At 8:25 a.m., just 38 minutes after the initial 911 call, the Help Flight helicopter arrived. Before the helicopter lifted off for the flight to St. Vincent’s/InterMountain Health in Billings, the baby had a “steady, self-sustained heartbeat.”
On December 18, the child was declared brain dead and then died. An autopsy was performed on December 19 by a state medical examiner that determined the six-week-old infant died of “cranio-cerebral and cervical [head and neck] trauma.” The manner of death was determined to be homicide. The findings were reviewed and supported by two other state medical examiners.
Further investigations led to charges filed against Head Carrier on April 1. He was taken into custody on April 4, made an appearance in Justice Court and was then remanded to Gallatin County Detention Center where he remains under a $500,000 bond. The investigation continues.
Defendant’s request at arraignment for reduced bond and a modified no contact order were denied. Alex Nixon represented the State. Blaine McGivern represented the defendant.
Charges are only allegations and everyone is presumed innocent unless and until they are found guilty in a court of law.