Oregon Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Causing the Death of His 15-Month-Old Daughter
On Tuesday, a Lincoln County Circuit Court judge sentenced Emerson Cromwell to life imprisonment, saying that he was responsible for the violent and horrible death of his 15-month-old toddler.
Imposing the presumptive sentence prescribed by the legislature, Judge Sheryl Bachart said the child was often left at home alone and that Cromwell was ill-equipped to be a father.
The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
Cromwell (27) was convicted by a Lincoln County jury of murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, and manslaughter in the first degree, after a trial lasting nearly a month.
He Called 911, Saying that His Daughter was Unconscious and Unresponsive
His conviction dates to August 9, 2022, when law enforcement and medical personnel responded to a 911 call from Cromwell, who stated that his daughter was unconscious and unresponsive.
The toddler was transported to the Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Emergency Room, where it was determined that she was suffering from a brain bleed.
The little girl was then airlifted to the OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, where she died the following morning.
The Oregon State Police Medical Examiner declared the death to be homicide, due to an acute subdural hemorrhage and blunt force injuries to the head.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Cromwell was alone with his daughter before she became unresponsive.
Messaging data from the day revealed that Cromwell had become frustrated with feeding his daughter and had received bad news regarding a clothing business venture.
A short time after these messages, Cromwell texted the child’s mother, saying something was wrong with the child. He then called 911.
Evidence during the trial showed that Cromwell began spanking his daughter when she was only five months old. He would take her into her room and beat her, causing bruises that lasted days.
The State presented several medical experts who all concurred that the only explanation for the child’s severe brain damage was child abuse trauma.