Albert Lea man charged with murder in death of toddler

(ABC 6 News) – An Albert Lea man has been charged with 2nd-degree murder after the death of a toddler.

Austin Michael Navarro, 24, was arraigned Friday afternoon on charges related to the death of 2-year-old Ahziyas Bellemy Solo-Dampha.

According to the Freeborn County Attorney’s office, the child’s mother left Solo-Dampha and an infant in the care of Navarro when she went to work on Thursday morning, July 6.

The mother told police that Navarro had texted her that Solo-Dampha was injured after falling down the stairs. After getting pictures of her child’s injuries, the mother left work early. When she got home, she said the door to her apartment was wedged shut. She also said she found Navarro locked in a bedroom with the infant in his arms, and Solo-Dampha unresponsive on the bed. She called 911.

Life-saving attempts were not successful, and Solo-Dampha was pronounced dead.

An autopsy showed that Solo-Dampha suffered multiple bruises, abrasions, broken ribs, and internal bleeding from a lacerated liver and pancreas. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death was multiple blunt force injures and the manner of death was homicide.

Navarro is being held on a $1,000,000 unconditional bail.