LARGO, Fla. — Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested a Largo man Monday in connection with the beating death of a seven-week-old baby on November 17.
- Gwendolyn Eydelman died November 19
- Artem Eydelman, 29, admitted to hitting baby with closed fist
- Eydelman charged with 1st degree murder, violation of probation x 2
- More Pinellas County news
According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies were initially called to a Largo home on November 17 for a report of an unresponsive child. When they arrived, paramedics were helping 7-week-old Gwendolyn Eydelman, who was unresponsive and not breathing.
Artem Eydelman, 29, told deputies at the time he'd found Gwendolyn in her bassinet in that condition. He said he'd fed her and laid her in the bassinet a short while earlier and fell asleep in his bed.
Gwendolyn was transported to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. On November 19, she was removed from life support and succumbed to her injuries.
Doctors told detectives Gwendolyn suffered a skull fracture consistent with "high force impact", bleeding on the brain, and rib fractures, according to Sheriff's Office detectives.
On Monday, Artem Eydelman admitted to detectives while being interviewed that he, in fact, had struck Gwendolyn in the head with a closed fist while changing her diaper that day. He also reportedly admitted to shaking the child and squeezing her midsection before calling 911.
All this occurred while Gwendolyn's mother, Mariah Samon, 26, was at work.
Following the interview, detectives arrested Eydelman without incident. He was subsequently booked into the Pinellas County Jail.
Eydelman was charged with 1st degree murder, one county of violation of probation - robbery by sudden snatching, and one county of violation of probation - dealing in stolen property.
Officials said Eydelman also has a long history of arrests, including more than 20 arrests for domestic violence, drugs, and robbery — dating back to 2008.
He will appear before a Pinellas County judge on Tuesday afternoon.