Florida man murdered baby by punching, squeezing her, cops say

A Florida man was charged with murder after an infant died from injuries sustained in a beating, deputies said.

Deputies with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office were called to a report of an unresponsive child at home in the 12000 block of 117th Street North in Largo on Nov. 17.

Seven-week-old Gwendolyn Eydelman was not breathing when deputies arrived. Paramedics took Gwendolyn to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.

Doctors later told detectives Gwendolyn had a severe skull fracture “consistent with high-force impact,” bleeding on her brain and several rib fractures which were consistent with compression.

Gwendolyn was removed from life support and succumbed to her injuries on Nov. 19, according to the sheriff’s office.

Artem Eydelman, 29, was caring for Gwendolyn that day while her mother was at work, according to the news release. A probable cause affidavit indicated he was with the child for a little over four hours.

Deputies said, while he is not Gwendolyn’s biological father, he signed her birth certificate. Gwendolyn’s 26-year-old mother told detectives she met Eydelman while she was pregnant.

When deputies spoke with Eydelman, he first told them he fed Gwendolyn and put her down in her bassinet, kept in the bedroom he shared with the child’s mother. He said he then fell asleep in his bed and about 15 minutes later, returned to the bassinet to find the infant unresponsive and not breathing, according to the sheriff’s office.

Eydelman told deputies he told a family member in the house and called 911.

After “several inconsistencies” with Eydelman’s statement to deputies, detectives said they later learned he hit the child in the head and squeezed her midsection before Gwendolyn lost consciousness.

Eydelman was interviewed by detectives on Nov. 26. According to the sheriff’s office, Eydelman admitted he was frustrated while changing Gwendolyn’s diaper and punched her on Nov. 17. He also reportedly admitted he shook and squeezed the infant.

Eydelman was arrested and faces one count of murder and was charged with violating his probation. He was taken to the Pinellas County jail without incident.

He was on probation after pleading guilty and being adjudicated guilty on felony charges of robbery by sudden snatching and dealing in stolen property from 2015, court records show. Eydelman also pleaded guilty and was adjudicated guilty on a charge of grand theft of a motor vehicle, a felony.

Eydelman also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia charges in 2008 and 2017 and a misdemeanor battery charge in 2014, Pinellas County court records show.

The investigation is ongoing.

An incident report on Gwendolyn’s death from the Florida Department of Children and Families, obtained by the Bradenton Herald through a public records request, indicated DCF had no prior involvement or history with the child.

In an emailed statement, the Florida Department of Children and Families said, “The pain and suffering this child endured is unimaginable. DCF is grieving with those who loved her. The department is ready to assist the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in holding anyone responsible for Gwendolyn’s death accountable.”

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office conducts child protective investigations within the county, not DCF.

This story was originally published November 27, 2018 at 7:58 AM.