Man charged with murder in baby death

Man charged with murder in baby death

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Prosecutors have formally charged a man with murder in the shaken-baby death of his girlfriend’s 2-month-old son earlier this year.

Matthew Evans was arraigned Tuesday on first- and third-degree murder charges in the Jan. 2 death of Jayden Cohen.

Cohen died nearly two weeks after being hospitalized when medics found him unresponsive following a phone call from a neighbor. Evans was initially charged with assault after the boy was hospitalized.

Police say the 21-year-old Evans told them he had smoked synthetic marijuana while watching the boy and shook him because he was crying.

An autopsy found Cohen died from head injuries and had rib fractures consistent with earlier abuse.

Evans’ public defender could not immediately be reached to comment.