MESA COUNTY, Colo - The Mesa County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested Shaun Obyrne, 31, of Grand Junction, in relation to the death of his 2-month-old child.
Obyrne is facing one count of Child Abuse Resulting in Death (Class 2 Felony), and three counts of Child Abuse causing Serious Bodily Injury (Class 3 Felony).
On 8/27/18 at 5:17 a.m. deputies responded to a home on the 100 block of 29 ¾ road for a report of a 2-month-old boy who was not conscious and not breathing.
The infant was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital and later transferred to Children’s Hospital Colorado. The baby succumbed to his injuries two days later.
Multiple medical professionals reviewed the baby’s injuries and determined they were the not the result of accidental trauma. Older partially healed injuries on the child were also discovered and believed to have occurred on three separate occasions between 6/25/18 and 8/29/18. At the time of death, the infant had at least 17 broken ribs at three various stages of healing.
The Mesa County Coroner’s office has ruled the cause of the baby’s death as blunt force chest injuries and the manner of death as homicide.
As a result of the baby’s death, the Coroner's Office will be re-reviewing the death of a 2-year-old child that was also in Obyrne’s care. The manner of child’s death on May 6, 2018 was ruled as natural.
Both cases are still under investigation.
To report suspect child abuse in Mesa County, call 911 or the Child Protection Hotline at 242-1211. For information on any inmate in our jail facility, visit our Inmate Locator System webpage.
