WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. – A 20-year-old West Melbourne man was arrested overnight on charges he fatally injured his girlfriend's 4-month old daughter.
Brevard County sheriff's investigators arrested Gavin Sola about 2 a.m. Wednesday on homicide and cruelty to a child charges following an autopsy into the child's death, records show. He is being held without bond at the Brevard County Jail Complex in Sharpes.
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The child's death is the 22nd reported Brevard County homicide to take place this year, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.
Investigators said Sola was caring for the toddler Sunday at a West Melbourne apartment complex at 105 San Paulo Circle when the child suffered an unexplained head injury.
It was not immediately known if Sola or the mother – who had been out shopping – called 911, but the child was rushed in a private vehicle to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne on Sunday night.
Doctors told investigators that the girl arrived unresponsive.
The injuries were so severe that the child was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando where she died Monday morning.
Sola will go before a judge Wednesday.
A search of court records also shows Sola was charged with battery in May. The state attorney's office was working on a plea deal and later decided not to file any formal charges in the case.