x
Breaking News
More () »

Norfolk father arrested, accused of killing his 9-month-old daughter

Norfolk police charged Kasiam Tinsley with the murder of his baby, Makayla. The medical examiner's office determined the 9-month-old girl had been killed.

NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) — Police arrested a father and charged him with murder after his 9-month-old daughter died Tuesday morning.

Members of Norfolk Fire-Rescue and Norfolk Police Department were at a home in 300 block of Nicholson Street after they received a call that Makayla Smith was unconscious. Medics took the 9-month-old girl to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters where she died.

The medical examiner's office determined she had been killed. Makayla's mother and aunt told 13News Now that Makayla had damage to her brain and broken ribs.

Detectives charged Makayla's father, 28-year-old Kasiam A. Tinsley, with Second Degree Murder.

Tinsley was arraigned Friday morning. His being held in the City of Norfolk Jail. His bond hearing is scheduled for November 20. A preliminary hearing is supposed to take place on January 20, 2019.

Makayla's mother posted on Facebook that her daughter's viewing is at Metropolitan Funeral Service's Berkley Chapel on November 19 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Her funeral is November 20 at 1 p.m. Her mother started a fund to help cover funeral expenses for the 9-month-old.

PHOTOS: 9-month-old killed in Norfolk, father charged

13News Now spoke with a licensed clinical social worker, Gary Rotfus, who said there are ways to tell if a parent or relative is abusing a child.

“If there are signs of a parent acting strangely or acting stressed out, isolating themselves, a sudden change in their personality. Those are the kind of things that a loved one or a friend should look for. Family members and friends should also be on the lookout if they suspect someone is abusing someone’s abusing their child, or neglecting their child,” said Rotfus.

Rotfus added that once someone realizes something’s wrong, they should immediately call for help.

“They should take the proper action and wither call the authorities or speak to the person, in some way intervene,” said Rotfus. "There’s probably something like 500 deaths a year in the United States of parents against their children. It’s unimaginable. I mean, people realize that violence occurs, and tragedies occur all the time, but a parent killing a child is the most unimaginable thing."

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

Follow 13News Now on Facebook and Twitter

► Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13News Now App.

Before You Leave, Check This Out