Jury convicts man in death of 3-month-old daughter

Prosecutors alleged that Justin Forsgren violently shook 3-month-old Rayea, who was born premature. The girl was hospitalized for the first two months of her life and abused for a month until she died in Feb. 2012, prosecutors said.

As a clerk read the jury verdict, Forsgren, 36, tilted his head back and then forward, burying his face in his hands.

The same jury is now tasked with deciding Forsgren’s fate. He faces a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole during a penalty hearing expected to wrap up Friday.

Defense lawyers had argued that the death was a “tragic accident,” and Forsgren had told police that he accidentally dropped the child on her head.

But prosecutors argued that Forsgren was upset and shook the child so violently, and possibly threw her onto a bed, that she suffered severe brain injuries and died a day-and-a-half later.

At trial, prosecutor Kristina Rhoades pointed to “little inconsistencies” in Forsgren’s statement to police. At first, Forsgren said the child fell from his arms, but later he told police the baby pushed off him.

Rayea had suffered 27 rib fractures and clavicle fractures as a result of abuse, according to prosecutors.

Investigators spoke with Forsgren at his home near Swenson Street and Desert Inn Road after Rayea was injured, and Forsgren could not provide a time frame for his daughter’s injuries, according to authorities. He told investigators he had just fed her a bottle and was attempting to burp her.

Forsgren’s girlfriend, Rayea’s mother, arrived at the home with her 10-year-old daughter.

Forsgren conducted CPR on the baby while the mother called 911.

Forsgren told police he had smoked methamphetamine the day before he dropped his daughter. He denied being under the influence of drugs when his daughter was injured. Forsgren consented to a blood draw, police said.

Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker