Tuscaloosa Man Charged With Murder of Infant

TUSCALOOSA Ala.
By Dale Hines
January 29, 2025

Police have arrested a man and charged him with murder after an infant died from suspected child abuse.

Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, told local media that police were alerted when an unresponsive 1-year-old girl was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center on Thursday.

Kennedy said the child exhibited signs of a brain injury and was flown to Children’s of Alabama hospital in Birmingham. Medical experts there said the injuries appeared to be the result of physical abuse.

The VCU began investigating and said that they found at the time of the injury that the infant was left alone with 30-year-old Devonte Crumel, who is the boyfriend of the girl’s mother.

Law enforcement determined that Crumel became upset and frustrated because the baby was crying and was smoking marijuana.

“Crumel could give no explanation for how the injury occurred,” Kennedy said.

Crumel was originally arrested and charged with Aggravated Child Abuse but the charge was elevated to Murder after the child passed away from injuries.

The 30-year-old suspect remains in the county jail with no bond pursuant to Aniah’s Law.

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