The man who was arrested in connection with the “suspicious death” of his 3‑month-old daughter this month had his case continued for two weeks Monday, while police continue to wait for toxicology reports that could identify the cause of the baby’s death.
Depending on the results of those toxicology reports, Rodney Lee Brown, 26 of Ansonia, could face additional charges, Ansonia police have said. Or the single charge against him — one count of risk of injury to a child — could be dropped.
Meanwhile, his case is under review for transfer to the Part A docket at Superior Court in Milford, where more serious cases are heard.
Brown is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Derby on Oct. 12. He is being held on a $150,000 bond.
Police were called to an Ansonia apartment on Sept. 10 on a report of a medical emergency involving 3‑month-old Alayziah Brown. Police provided medical assistance on scene, but she was pronounced dead at Griffin Hospital that night.
Brown was arrested shortly after the incident, but police have not said what role, if any, he played in the infant’s death.
New, Different, Charges Filed
Monday morning, while already in lock-up for the risk of injury charge, Brown was arrested for another incident — an alleged fight that occurred at a Shelton gas station July 18.
Brown was charged with third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace for that incident, in which he allegedly assaulted a woman at the gas station after his car was cut off by the car she was a passenger in. There is a $1,000 bond for this incident.
Shelton police said Brown’s girlfriend and the mother of the deceased child, Kristie Fitzgerald, was also with him during that incident.
The Shelton Police Department has a warrant pending for Fitzgerald’s arrest for third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace.
Shelton police Detective Ben Trabka said he wasn’t sure if Fitzgerald had been notified about the warrant yet, and said he was not sure when she would be arrested.
Protective Order Strengthened
In addition to three convictions in Florida, Brown had one previous risk of injury count pending before the Connecticut Superior Court in Derby for an incident that took place in a Shelton apartment Aug. 1.
In that incident, police said Brown threw a case of CDs at Fitzgerald while she was holding the baby.
When Brown appeared in court for those charges, a judge issued a protective order prohibiting Brown from attacking, assaulting or harming Fitzgerald and the child in any way.
On Monday, Judge Karen Sequino strengthened it to a full protective order. That means if Brown is released from custody, he is prohibited from coming within 100 feet of Fitzgerald.
“You see her, you go the other way,” Sequino said to Brown, when he briefly appeared Monday.
Family members have declined to comment about the incident, but several attended the court appearance Monday, some wearing T‑shirts with photographs of Alayziah. One person muttered “baby killer” as Brown was led out of the court room.
The family did release a photograph and short statement about Alayziah before her burial on Sept. 19.
“Her time with us was too short and she will be missed terribly,” the family wrote.
