Update: Earlier this week, we told you about the arrest of John White on a child abuse charge after Michael Lara, the two-year-old child of his girlfriend, suffered critical injuries. See our previous coverage below.
Michael has now died of his injuries — and a newly released document sheds more light on the tragic incident.
White is accused of waiting for nearly half an hour to summon help for the boy.
And police in Greeley, where the incident took place, say his accounts of what happened didn't stay consistent.
According to an affidavit obtained by both 9News and 7News, White, a U.S. Army veteran with a taste for MMA-style fighting, recently moved to Greeley from Mississippi after meeting Michael's mother online.
However, his LinkedIn page and Facebook page note numerous jobs he worked in Colorado during previous years.
On Monday afternoon, May 11, officers from the Greeley Police Department were dispatched to a mobile home at 200 North 35th Avenue after a 911 call on a report of a child who wasn't breathing.
But White, who'd been watching the boy, hadn't punched in those digits. Instead, a neighbor to whom he'd gone for help made the call.
During the 25-30 minutes prior to contacting the neighbor, White is said to have merely yelled for help from inside the residence. White added that he "popped" Michael in the chest, "tried to shake him" and used splashes of hot and cold water in his unsuccessful revival efforts.
Young Michael had numerous injuries, including "old and new bruising to his head, bruising down his back, burns to his face and neck and a significant injury to his penis," the report points out.
How did he get them? White allegedly told investigators that Michael fell off the porch and hit his head. Later, he suggested that a pit bull living with the family had knocked him over, causing him to tumble down the stairs.
The report quotes White as saying he had "watched [Michael] hit his head on every one of the steps going down." But later, White maintained that he hadn't actually witnessed this and instead "believes" the dog had been the instigator of the fall.
One possible reason for confusion: White admitted having injected drugs into his hand earlier in the day "so he would have energy the next day to rearrange their residence."
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, White was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse. But yesterday afternoon, a day after Michael lost his life, White appeared in court to be informed about new accusations: child abuse resulting in death and first-degree murder by a person in a position of trust.
These are by far the most serious charges White has faced, but not the first. His record includes arrests for DUI, trespassing, assault, domestic violence and violation of a protection order.
Look below to see a 7News report about the latest developments, followed by our previous coverage.
Original post, 8:50 a.m. May 13: As documented on his Facebook page, John White is a veteran who's participated in mixed martial arts bouts.
Now, however, he's in the fight of his life — and so is the two-year-old son of his girlfriend, who's in critical condition at last report.
White, meanwhile, is under arrest on suspicion of felony child abuse.
Additional photos and a video below.
According to White's LinkedIn page, he was a U.S. Army soldier from 2006 to 2012. His description of his time in uniform reads: "Serving the greatest country on EARTH! Combat style." Here's a look at him on duty.
More recent LinkedIn listings include jobs as a technician, mechanic and crane operator. His Facebook page also mentions a gig with a Denver jui-jitsu business.
The page's gallery includes plenty of casual portraits, including this one....
...and this one:
As for his most recent text posts, one from December outlines a battle with the Veteran's Administration — a situation faced by many vets these days. The item reads:
DEAR VA, oh and eBENEFITS, i just got off a 3 HOUR CALL with you. Trying to find out why and what is taking so long on all my benefits and medical. Your reply: Sir, we are short handed and even though you have a 4 year claim we would ask that YOU CREATE A NEW CLAIM AND TURN IN YOUR FILES PERSONALLY, BECAUSE WE CANT FIND YOUR CLAIM FROM "april 3rd, 2010",from the Denver VA and Benefits center. My response: i never said april 3rd 2010, So how did you know? Or the fact that I was in Denver,CO. Where do you see that? Oh and i thought when i spent 8 years of my life WORKING as a soldier, i wouldn't be asked to do YOUR job, AGAIN!!!! so, No, we will proceed with my claim from APRIL "3RD" 2010 and I will be calling a congressman. ?#?screwedBYtheGREENweenieAGAIN?.Then, in January, he shared this sentiment: "I see who is in my corner. Fuck who ain't. Remember, you asked for this when you turned your back. Happy 2015 i just struck gold. And you enjoy your little home in the mud. You forgot I came "down" to help YOU." These lines are followed by an emoticon and the tag "feeling accomplished."
The feeling was undoubtedly very different on Monday, May 11.
At about 1:45 p.m. on that day, officers from the Greeley Police Department reportedly responded to a home on the 200 block of North 35th Avenue on a report of a toddler identified as Michael Lara, two, who was unconscious and not breathing.
CPR proved ineffective, and after being transported to a local hospital, the boy was transferred to Children's Hospital in Denver. The most recent update describes his condition as critical.
The person looking after the child was White, who'd recently moved into the home with his girlfriend — mother of Michael and a second child.
A GPD spokesman told CBS4 that the child had visible injuries, albeit none that would have explained his unconscious state.
Nonetheless, he maintained that White's story "didn't add up" — and his responses, as well as interviews with neighbors, are said to have prompted his arrest on suspicion of child abuse.
Continue to see White's vivid booking photo, followed by CBS4 coverage.
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.
