Battered Gary Baby Dies From Earlier Injuries

GARY, Ind.(STMW) -- Syrus Morgan, the 5-month-old northwest Indiana baby who suffered severe head and brain trauma from abuse, died Friday morning at a Chicago hospital.

The newborn had been flown to University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital on Tuesday night after his mother called for an ambulance when she returned home and found the baby unresponsive, with his lips purple, the Post-Tribune is reporting.

Police arrested both the mother, Siarra Morgan, 19, and her boyfriend, Melvin McNair, 27, at the Methodist Hospitals Northlake campus emergency room after medical personnel said the baby had suffered multiple skull fractures, bleeding on the brain and broken ribs. The injuries all appeared to be caused by abuse, the police report states.

Morgan and McNair were released from custody Thursday because police are waiting for additional medical information to determine the extent and timing of any physical abuse to the baby.

An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

McNair said he was alone with the baby about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday while Morgan went to the store. He said the baby was lying on the bed as he played video games when Syrus began crying and a pacifier only quieted him for a brief time. He told police he left the room and while he was gone, the baby fell on the floor and his "eyes were rolling back," the report states.

Detectives Cpl. Edward Gonzalez, Cpl. James Nielsen and Daryl Gordon are investigating the infant's death. Anyone with information can call them at (219) 881-1210.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)