(SACRAMENTO, CA) — A 27-year-old Sacramento father has been formally charged with murder in the death of his 11-month-old child following an incident at an apartment on Rivergate Way.
Emari Lee Thompson is charged with one felony count of murder under California Penal Code Section 187(a), according to a felony complaint filed by the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors allege Thompson unlawfully and "with malice aforethought" killed Zyari Doe on or about Aug. 15.
According to the Sacramento Police Department, officers responded just after 6 a.m. Aug. 15 to reports of an unresponsive 11-month-old inside an apartment in the 500 block of Rivergate Way.
The child was transported to an area hospital, where the child was pronounced dead despite lifesaving efforts, police said. Thompson, identified by police as the child's father, was detained by officers.
Because of the circumstances surrounding the death, homicide detectives and crime scene investigators took over the investigation. Police said investigators processed the scene, collected evidence and interviewed witnesses.
Following a review of the case and consultation with the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, Thompson was arrested on suspicion of murder.
(Photographs posted to a Facebook account verified by OpGov.news as belonging to Thompson show him holding an infant. The account also lists “ZY’ARI ALAYA THOMPSON” in its profile biography. OpGov.news has not independently confirmed that the infant pictured is the 11-month-old identified as Zyari Doe in the criminal complaint. Image: Emari Thompson/Facebook.)
The District Attorney's Office has since formally filed the murder charge. The complaint does not provide further details about the circumstances surrounding Zyari's death, including an alleged cause of death or injuries. The complaint does not describe how the child died or the circumstances prosecutors allege led to the death. It charges Thompson with murder and alleges he acted with “malice aforethought,” the statutory language used in California's murder law.
The District Attorney's Office confirmed Thompson has been arraigned and defense counsel was appointed.
Thompson remains in custody at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office inmate database. The Sheriff's Office lists him as ineligible for bail and shows no projected release date.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed additional details about what allegedly occurred inside the Rivergate Way apartment or the evidence investigators say led to the murder charge. The publicly available complaint does not contain a narrative describing the circumstances of the child's death.
The Sacramento Police Department continues to ask anyone with information about the investigation to contact its dispatch center at 916-808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-HELP (4357). Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the P3 Tips app.
If you’d like to add or correct anything in this report, feel free to reach out to me or leave a comment below. Submit Sacramento County tips and story ideas to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com.
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