Dad jailed for shaking baby daughter so hard that she had a heart attack and died

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 – A man has been jailed after he admitted to shaking his tiny daughter so hard that she had a heart attack and died.

29-year-old Samuel Warnock admitted the manslaughter of three-month-old Miyah during the 2021 coronavirus lockdown.

Court documents say an ambulance was called to their home in Devizes, Wiltshire, on September 20, 2021, and the baby was taken to Bristol Children’s Hospital but she sadly died just a month later.

Following Miyah’s death, extensive medical examinations were carried out which ruled out any natural causes, rather pointing to a traumatic head injury consistent with violent shaking or blunt force.

Baby Miyah’s mum, 29-year-old Jasmine, also pleaded guilty to child cruelty.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Childe said: ‘Samuel Warnock inflicted injuries on his baby so serious that she went into cardiac arrest, and despite the best efforts of medical experts, died almost one month later in hospital.

‘Her life was cut tragically short by her father. Her grandparents, who doted on Miyah have described her as a princess.

‘I cannot imagine how difficult this time has been and continues to be for them as doting grandparents.

‘All officers and police staff involved in this case have been moved by the tragic circumstances of little Miyah.

‘I would like to thank them for their determination to bring Miyah’s parents to justice.’

In a short tribute to Miyah, grandparents Andrew and Michelle Rideout said: ‘Miyah was our princess. We are devastated by the loss of our granddaughter.

‘We will never get over losing her.’

Samuel Warnock was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Jasmine Warnock was handed a three-year community order and given 30 rehabilitation days.