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Vineyard couple arrested, accused of child abuse in newborn’s death

By Harrison Epstein - | Jul 28, 2023

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald file photo

The Utah County Sheriff's Office logo is shown behind Sheriff Mike Smith during a press conference at his office in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

The Utah County Sheriff’s Office on Friday announced the arrests of Alexzander Sean Berry, 29, and Myra Jane Megan, 24, in connection with the death of their 4-month-old child.

According to a probable cause statement, Berry was arrested on accusations of aggravated child abuse and child abuse homicide. Megan was arrested for aggravated child abuse because she allegedly was “aware of the abuse occuring (sic) in the home and permitted it to continue.”

The two were arrested in their Vineyard home after a 911 call was made regarding the child, who was pronounced dead at Timpanogos Hospital. During their interview with police, the couple said they found the infant cold and unresponsive after being put down for a nap on Wednesday.

Evidence technicians, according to the probable cause statement, found signs of severe diaper rash and bruising on the child while additional investigators found the family home to be “in very poor condition.”

During the autopsy, examiners reportedly found signs of blunt force trauma, which the arresting officer wrote was “so severe that her skull had cracked in several places and there had been large amounts of bleeding around the baby’s brain. This severe trauma was determined to have caused infants death.”

After further questioning by police, Megan said Berry had “a history of anger issues and being physically abusive with her and the children,” including additional instances of violence the day of the child’s death.

“Alex explained that he had been sitting on the corner of the bed holding the infant when he aggressively hit her on the top of the head with a closed fist,” reads the probable cause statement.

Berry was ordered to be held without bail, while bail was set at $10,000 for Megan.

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