A Kentucky man has admitted to smashing his 9-month-old daughter on her head in front of his other children while he was arguing with the mother of his children, leading the young girl to die.
Syied Malik-Kawon Epps was arrested in July 2023 and was charged with murder related to domestic violence in connection to the death of his daughter Sy’kia Epps, according to Lexington jail records viewed by Us Weekly.
Nearly three years after the crime, Epps, 31, has pleaded guilty to murder, according to WDKY. In light of the plea, authorities have recommended that he serve 25 years in prison.
The crime took place on July 26, 2023. Lexington Police Department officers responded to a home in Lexington, Kentucky, after they received a call about a 9-month-old girl who had been brought to a hospital with life-threatening brain trauma.
Upon their arrival, Epps told officers that his daughter was with a babysitter when she got hurt. He then shared the name of the caretaker before claiming “that was all the information he had,” according to WKYT.
While in court, Lexington Police Detective Paul Hogan testified Epps “couldn’t provide last name, phone number, anything other than a physical description” for the alleged babysitter.
Investigators looked through the home and found security camera footage, which showed Epps at the scene during the time frame that the incident took place. Authorities also spoke with three children in the home, who said they were all present when Sy’kia was injured.
“All three stated that Mr. Epps had dropped their sister on her head,” Hogan said. “One articulated … ‘Daddy smashed her on her head really hard and she was upside down.'”
It was later learned that Epps and the mother of his children were in an argument while she was at work. Epps reportedly threatened the kids during the argument, with Hogan saying “he stated he needed to come get her ‘roaches,’ referring to the children, and that if she was home one minute late from work, they would be waiting out on the porch.”
Epps was arrested one day later on July 27, 2023, and was initially charged with assault. However, the charge was upgraded to murder four days later when Sy’kia died.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place on the morning of July 1.
Epps is currently being held in custody on a $1 million bond. If he is released on bond before his sentencing, he will not be allowed to have any contact with the victim’s family.
