CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A 41-year-old Cheyenne resident has been formally charged in connection with the death of a 10-month-old girl, according to officials with the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office. The case, which stems from an incident reported earlier this year, has resulted in charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
Authorities identified the suspect as John D. Haney. A judge has set his bond at $1 million cash. As with all criminal cases, Haney is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court or through a plea agreement.
Investigators say the infant died on March 26, 2025, after emergency responders were called to a residence in Cheyenne. According to an affidavit filed in the case, Haney contacted 911 that morning, reporting that the child — his girlfriend’s daughter — was not breathing.
First responders arrived and began life-saving measures, including CPR. However, officials noted in court documents that the child’s extremities were already cold upon their arrival, raising immediate concerns. She was transported to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead within approximately 90 minutes.
An autopsy conducted later determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation, meaning a lack of oxygen. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Further medical examinations revealed additional injuries. X-rays showed fractures in one arm and both legs. While medical professionals stated that the broken bones were not the direct cause of death, they described the injuries as “highly concerning” and consistent with possible child abuse.
During interviews with investigators, Haney reportedly stated that the child had been fussy before he put her down for a nap. He told authorities he went into the bathroom for up to 10 minutes and returned to find the infant unresponsive.
Detectives also examined security camera footage from inside and outside the residence. The system reportedly operated on motion activation, recording short clips when triggered. Investigators later obtained a warrant for the account associated with the security system and learned that two video clips from the day of the incident had been deleted and could not be recovered.
According to the affidavit, footage from that day shows Haney standing in the bathroom doorway before the recording abruptly stops. There is no video showing him exiting the bathroom. Roughly 30 minutes before the 911 call, a separate clip from the living room was recorded after the family dog activated the motion sensor. Investigators noted that the audio captured during that clip included a sound believed to be a scream from the child.
Authorities have indicated that if Haney does not post bond, he will appear in court for a probable cause hearing within 10 days. If the case proceeds, it will be transferred to district court for further legal proceedings.
The investigation remains ongoing.
