Matthew Taylor Hinton faced a judge Friday in Oconee County after being charged in the death of his five month old daughter. The grandmother of the baby, Brianna Bright, cried through the hearing Friday morning. The judge told Hinton he could face 20 years to life and that he will need to go before a circuit judge for a bond hearing. No date for the bond hearing has been set.
Seneca Police have arrested a young father, accusing him of beating his 5 month old daughter to death. 22 year old Matthew Taylor Hinton was arrested Thursday, and was silent as he was put into a police car and taken to the Oconee Detention Center. Police say the incident happened at the apartment Hinton shared with the child's mother on Northwoods Drive in Seneca. Neighbors noticed the child, Brianna Bright, as a sweet spirit. "She has the most big beautiful blue eyes, and was a very happy baby," says Kimberly Stanfel. "She looked like she was very well taken care of."
But officers tell a different story. According to reports, Hinton called 911 Sunday, saying the baby wasn't breathing. Brianna died of closed head injuries two days later at Greenville Memorial Hospital. Investigators say it was clear it was no accident. "It was very obvious," says Police Chief John Covington. "Based on the timeline when the injuries occurred, the only person who had care and custody of child was the biological father."
The Chief says there is no evidence the baby was abused before. That leaves neighbors like Stanfel wondering what went wrong. "I didn't think they could ever do that. I mean, they love their baby and she was so happy," she says. "That's usually not a sign of a child that's been treated badly."
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