Snohomish County man facing manslaughter charges in death of infant

EVERETT -- A 23-year old Everett man arrested for assault and manslaughter could face murder charges in the death of a 2-month-old baby boy.

Police say Brian Perez Reyes drove the baby to the hospital Friday night.  The baby had catastrophic brain injuries and was not breathing.  Doctors managed to resuscitate him but said he had suffered from a devastating brain injury and had no evidence of cognitive function.  The baby boy later died.

Perez Reyes told detectives the baby's mother had dropped the baby off at his house because she had to work at 5 a.m. He said the baby began to fuss early in the morning, and he went to get a bottle.  He said when he returned, the child was not breathing so he 'jostled' him.  The child stopped breathing, so Perez Reyes drove him to the hospital.

After a second interview, detectives say Perez Reyes changed his story to say he had tripped and dropped the child two or three feet to the floor.  But doctors say the child's injuries were not consistent with an impact injury.  They said the injuries the child suffered indicated violent, brutal shaking back and forth.

He was arrested and charged with assault and manslaughter.  Monday in court, prosecutors asked that the charges be upped to second-degree murder, and bail increased to $2 million.  Those recommendations are still being considered by the court.  For the time being, he remains in jail on $200,000 bail.