Father charged in baby’s death

PALMER — A Wasilla man arrested Monday for suspected second-degree murder and manslaughter following the death of his 6-month-old daughter confessed to troopers he lied when he told the baby’s mother the child was injured because he’d tripped and the girl had fallen down some stairs, according to an affidavit filed in court records by an Alaska State Troopers officer.

Burton Grant Naczi, 22, faces a minimum of 27 years in prison if convicted of shaking his daughter, named Kadence, and throwing her onto a couch, then not calling for medical aid although it was apparent the baby was injured.

During the 22 hours he had Kadence, according to a sworn affidavit by Trooper Michelyn Grigg included in court documents, Naczi told troopers he caused her injuries “by shaking her and throwing her onto a couch. Burton Naczi stated that after he shook [the baby] she became limp and unresponsive.”

Although Naczi feared Kadence had serious injuries, the affidavit states that, “Burton Naczi described that (the baby) remained in a diminished level of responsiveness, yet he still did not seek medical intervention.”

He partially covered Kadence with a blanket before her mother and a friend picked up the baby, and later explained Kadence’s bruises and fatal injuries came as the result of a fall with Naczi down a flight of stairs, according to the affidavit supporting charges against Naczi.

In a recorded conversation between Naczi and the mother, 19-year-old Stephanie Lewinski, Naczi told Lewinski the baby had been injured accidentally, but under questioning by troopers later he recanted that story and admitted causing the injuries, the affidavit states.

Troopers say Kadence was with Naczi when her injuries happened, and the mother rushed Kadence to the hospital after picking the baby up Saturday at Naczi’s home when she discovered bruising and other apparent injuries.

Doctors at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center determined the child’s injuries were life-threatening following an examination Saturday and sent her by air ambulance to the emergency room, Alaska State Troopers report. Kadence was transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. She suffered extensive bruising to her knees, arms, chest, ribs and face. A CAT scan revealed hemorrhages in the eye and brain. The baby was rushed into surgery to relieve swelling to her brain and placed on life support apparatus to help her heart and lungs function, but she died Sunday, the affidavit says.

Lewinski told troopers she’d dropped the baby off with Naczi, with whom she no longer has a relationship, on Friday afternoon. The mother had declined to return to Naczi’s home and “discuss renewing their failed relationship, as she is in a relationship with another person,” the affidavit says. “Lewinski further indicated Naczi was becoming more angry with every call.”

She said he was controlling and had threatened to “beat up her boyfriends” in the past.

Lewinski told troopers she had wanted to send someone over to take the baby back because she was concerned by Naczi’s temper. She said she found the child ready to go and strapped into her car seat when she arrived at Naczi’s home Saturday at about 2:30 p.m.

“Lewinski noticed that the child was not focusing and was very lethargic,” Grigg’s affidavit says.

The unemployed carpenter was arraigned Tuesday in Palmer District Court before Judge David Zwink on charges of murder II extreme indifference and manslaughter. Bail was set at $200,000 cash requiring a responsible, court-approved third party for release.

When asked by the judge of he wanted to hear the charges against him read before the court he replied, “That’s alright.”

The murder count carries a 10- to 99-year sentence with the expected minimum 20 years, Zwink told the defendant. The manslaughter charge carries a 20-year maximum with an average sentence between seven and 11 years.

This is not Naczi’s first run-in with the law.

In 2005 he was charged with gaining entry to a parked vehicle early in the morning after consuming alcohol as a minor. Naczi, then 20, was suspected of causing $500 damage to a vehicle’s window, rearview mirror and wiring to its in-dash CD player. Troopers also suspected him of drinking at a nearby bar and said he was under the influence of alcohol. He faced charges of criminal mischief, attempted theft and minor on a licensed premises. All those charges other than criminal mischief were eventually dropped, according to court records. He pleaded no contest in December 2005 to criminal mischief and was sentenced to 180 days in jail at Cordova Center, 150 of those days suspended, and put on 1,095 days of probation. He served his time in 2006.

The judge found Naczi eligible for a public defender after determining Naczi had worked one-and-a-half months as a carpenter making about $600 per week and had no land or income.