A Pennsylvania dad who confessed to physically abusing his infant daughter 20 years ago might now face new charges after the woman died recently of complications from the head trauma she sustained.
Layla Marie Dayton, 20, died in October 2024, two decades after sustaining serious injuries as an infant. On Monday, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide related to past head trauma, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
Stanley Craig Upshaw, now 44, pleaded guilty in 2006 to aggravated assault and child endangerment and was sentenced to eight to 16 years for the 2004 incident, in which he assaulted Dayton, the newspaper reported. Among the injuries the 3-month-old Dayton sustained were multiple fractured ribs, some more than a month old, as well as a bruised liver and two skull fractures.
Prosecutors said they are evaluating whether to file any additional charges in the case.
"While Layla's journey wasn't always easy, she always remained sassy and strong. She took every health obstacle that life threw at her head on," her obituary states. "She was your true definition of a bad ass. She often can be heard before even being seen with her famous 'HELLO!'"
She attended the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.
"She was sassy, and spunky, and had the best smile. People gravitated towards her because of her "amazingly obnoxious" personality. She was the epitome of sugar and spice. Layla loved a good day out, shopping at Target, and anytime spent with her mum. She loved music and, even in her wheelchair, had the best dance moves," her obituary stated.
Prosecutors said they are evaluating whether to file any additional charges in the case, the newspaper reported.
