Pictured: Celia Aurora Colby (courtesy of Larkin Mortuary). Background: Murray Police Department, Utah (Facebook).
In a heart-wrenching case from Utah, a 42-year-old father stands accused of taking the life of his infant daughter. Allegedly, the six-month-old was left alone for 43 perilous minutes in a basement, only to be discovered unresponsive later.
Neal English Colby has been apprehended and faces charges including first-degree felony child abuse homicide and child endangerment leading to death. This stems from the tragic 2025 demise of young Celia Aurora Colby.
On January 17, 2025, officers from the Murray Police Department responded to a distress call from Colby’s residence around 9:46 a.m., reported by Salt Lake City’s ABC affiliate KTVX. Upon arrival, Colby directed emergency responders to the basement, where they found the baby’s mother desperately administering CPR on a makeshift bed.
The basement room was described by authorities as cluttered and filthy, with debris scattered about, according to NBC affiliate KSL. Medical teams rushed Celia to a hospital; however, the little girl tragically passed away on the way.
Celia’s mother told investigators that she, her young son and the baby had been sick with the flu.
Around 2:30 a.m., the mother took Celia downstairs to Colby because she needed to sleep. The couple had separated but were still living together, with Colby staying in the basement.
Later that morning, the mother awoke to Colby screaming for her. She went downstairs and found him and their daughter in a harrowing state.
“[Celia] had red fluid coming out of her,” the affidavit said. “[The mother] stated she immediately began performing CPR and had to call 911 at the same time because Colby would not call.”
Colby gave investigators a different account. He said Celia drank a bottle and fell asleep after her mother brought her to him. He claimed he went upstairs and watched an hourlong YouTube video, then checked on her hourly until about 8:30 a.m., when he fell asleep in a chair.
He later said he had “wrapped a blanket around her tightly that stopped at her shoulder,” but claimed Celia had pulled it over her face.
Police said that Colby behaved strangely in the aftermath of the incident.
“Body cam footage from responding officers shows that [Colby] shows no remorse and is vaping when officers are not looking at him,” police wrote. “When officers make direct eye contact and speak with [him], he immediately begins wailing and howling, stating he doesn’t know what happened.”
He also allegedly said, “I feel so f—ing awful,” before adding, “I don’t know how it happened.”
Detectives found reddish fluid on the mattress, bottles of urine near the bed, animal waste, drug paraphernalia and several jars of THC wax in a cupboard containing baby food and other children’s items, according to KTVX.
Colby’s cellphone, which he had claimed was missing, was found in the couch where he had been sitting. Location data reportedly showed the phone left the residence at about 3:21 a.m.
“The location report shows that Colby left [Celia] alone without supervision and left the residence for 43 minutes,” court documents state. “GPS tracking shows that the area Colby’s phone remained is a known drug area for Murray police.”
An autopsy found bruising around Celia’s nostrils, right cheek and chin. The injuries were not fatal on their own, but reportedly presented “the possibility of airway obstruction by external forces.” The manner of death could not be determined.
A child abuse pediatrician who reviewed the case reportedly said there were “substantial concerns about the events that preceded [Celia’s] death, as well as the circumstances related to her death.”
The doctor said the basement was an unhealthy and dangerous environment for a developing child and raised particular concern about the injuries to Celia’s nostrils.
“The pattern of injury can be seen when a caregiver pinches the nose shut,” the pediatrician reportedly wrote. “It cannot be ruled out that her airway was manually obstructed by an adult.”
Celia’s obituary described her as having a “bright, energized spirit” and said she loved being outdoors, sitting on her parents’ laps, riding in her stroller and listening to the wind through the trees.
Colby was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail following his arrest and is being held without bail. Prosecutors have asked that he remain in custody pending trial.
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