SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) -
A Shreveport man was formally arraigned Tuesday in Caddo Parish District Court on a charge of first degree murder for the 2007 death of an infant.
Kenneth R. Willis, 28, is charged in the death of one-month-old Zamian Willis.
Willis was indicted on the first degree murder charge Monday by a Caddo Parish grand jury. He was also indicted Monday for second degree cruelty of a juvenile for an incident in March of this year involving another child and was arraigned on that charge Tuesday.
Investigators say that a local daycare worker reported some suspicious injuries that she noticed on a three-month-old boy. Detectives then visited the child's home and spoke with Willis, the father of the child, and the baby's mother. Shreveport Fire Department transported the baby to LSU after detectives reported that the baby seemed lethargic. Both parents were questioned at the Shreveport Police Complex and released.
During the investigation, detectives learned that Willis had a one-month-old son, Zamian Willis, that died under similar circumstances in February of 2007. At the time, there was insufficient evidence to arrest Willis.
On March 22nd, detectives learned that the three-month-old's injuries were inconsistent with a fall. Police arrested Willis after interviewing him and charged him with second degree murder in the death of his one-month-old, Zamian, as well as one count of second degree cruelty to a juvenile for the injuries sustained by his three-month-old.
After further investigation, Teka Keller , the daycare owner who reported the injuries, was arrested for failing to immediately report the child's injuries. Apparently, more than eight hours had passed before between the time Keller saw and reported the injuries.
At his arraignment on Tuesday, Willis entered not guilty pleas to both counts. Caddo Parish Assistant District Attorney Dale Cox informed Judge Mike Pitman of the state's intent to seek the death penalty in the case.
Copyright 2012 KSLA. All rights reserved.
Kenneth Willis, 27 (Courtesy: Shreveport Police Department)
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and KSLA, a Raycom Media Station.
