Milford, CT – Authorities in Milford have detained a 31-year-old man, Dale Kirkland, following the discovery of a deceased infant in a motel room bathtub. Kirkland, a recent Bridgeport resident, appeared before a judge in Milford Superior Court via a Zoom call for his arraignment, where his bond was set at $1 million.
The charges against Kirkland include risk of injury to a minor and cruelty to persons. Despite having no previous criminal record and being employed by FedEx for the duration of his nine months living in Connecticut, the gravity of the allegations led to the substantial bond amount. Assistant State Attorney Alanna Paul emphasized the severity of the situation during the arraignment, particularly pointing out Kirkland’s failure to report the death when it occurred.
Kirkland’s public defender made a plea for reducing the bond to $100,000 cash surety, which was denied by the judge due to the serious nature of the charges. The case has caught the attention of local residents, including Eric Klobedanz, a fellow patron of the Mayflower Motel where the incident occurred. Klobedanz expressed his distress over the incident, especially as a parent himself, highlighting the broader community impact of such tragedies.
The arrest stemmed from a distressing scene at the Mayflower Motel, where a cleaning staff member discovered an unresponsive infant in the bathtub on Wednesday morning. Police investigations revealed that Kirkland had checked into the motel the previous evening with the infant and left the next morning without the child.
This case has raised numerous questions about the circumstances leading up to the infant’s death and the responsibilities of individuals and authorities in such cases. Kirkland is likely to face additional charges as the investigation continues. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 28, where further details will likely emerge.