A Connecticut man accused of leaving his baby daughter to die in a motel bathroom will likely face additional charges, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Dale Kirkland, 31, was already facing two counts: risk of injury to a child and cruelty to persons. He pleaded not guilty to both charges at Wednesday’s hearing in Milford Superior Court, local Fox affiliate WTIC reported.
Kirkland was arrested last week after his 3-month-old daughter, Leilani, was found in a bathtub at a motel in Milford. Kirkland had been staying in a room at the Mayflower Motel and checked out Aug. 21 while leaving Leilani behind, according to authorities.
A cleaning crew found the baby fighting for her life and called the cops. Leilani was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Kirkland was tracked down and arrested later that day.
At Wednesday’s hearing, prosecutor Howard Stein told the court investigators were still waiting for a final autopsy report to determine Leilani’s cause of death, according to the Connecticut Post. Following that report, prosecutors plan to file additional charges against Kirkland, Stein said.
A judge agreed to continue the case to next month, and Kirkland is due back in court on Sept. 26, the CT Post reported. A mental competency exam, which was ordered at Kirkland’s first court appearance, was delayed until at least next month as well.
The specific circumstances of Leilani’s death remain unclear, as the affidavit for Kirkland’s arrest has been sealed. Prosecutors have said he was the last person to see Leilani alive and checked into the hotel with her before checking out alone.
Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families confirmed Tuesday it was “involved with the family” prior to Leilani’s death.
This incident reportedly occurred just weeks after Kirkland filed for custody of Leilani, according to News 12 Connecticut.
