Coon Rapids Man Suffocated 3-Month-Old Daughter 13 Years Ago: Police

COON RAPIDS, MN — An Anoka man is accused of killing his infant daughter more than 13 years ago. Benjamin A. Russell, 37, has been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter.

According to investigators, on July 5, 2022, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office received reports that the child’s father — identified as Russell — admitted to being responsible for his daughter’s death in 2009.

After further investigation, Russell was placed under arrest and transported to the Anoka County Jail, according to police.

On Jan. 19, 2009, Russell called 911 to report that the infant was not breathing, according to the criminal complaint. The baby girl was transported to Mercy Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Russell told police that he had been caring for the baby when the child's mother was at work, investigators said.

Russell told police that he put the baby down for a nap at 12:30 p.m., but when he went back to check on her about an hour later, she had rolled over onto her stomach and was face down on a blanket, according to the criminal complaint.

An autopsy at the time found that the child died from asphyxia/suffocation, police said.

However, earlier this month, Russell admitted to someone that he had actually put a pillow over the baby's face because she wouldn't stop crying, the criminal complaint states. Russell then went to smoke a cigarette and do dishes, but when he returned, the girl was blue, police said.

Russell currently has two small children under the age of 2, and his family reports that he is often overwhelmed while caring for them, police said.