2-Year-Old Child Killed, Essex Man Charged: Police

ESSEX, MD — An Essex man has been charged in the June 29 death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old child. Police said an autopsy determined the child died by homicide, and the cause of death was multiple injuries.

David Marvin Haas Jr., 34, of the 900 block of Garden Drive in Essex, is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree child abuse resulting in death.

Haas called 911 before 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, to report that he was babysitting his girlfriend's son, who had stopped breathing.

Police said the child was taken to MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.

Because of the age and injuries sustained by the child, the Baltimore County Police Department's homicide unit began an investigation.

"The Homicide Unit continued their investigation into the child's death and determined that the injuries he suffered were inconsistent with the account of events given to police by Haas," the police department said in a statement.

The medical examiner's autopsy report was received July 8, deeming the child's death a homicide, police reported Thursday, July 11.

Haas is being held without bail pending trial in the Baltimore County Detention Center.