Man arrested after baby dies from suspicious causes | Crime

A man was arrested Friday for the murder of a Gresham baby girl who police said sustained suspicious injuries.

Jeffrey E. Locker, 22, the live-in boyfriend of the girl’s mother, was picked up by police as he was traveling toward the Washington border north of Milton-Freewater in Northeastern Oregon after they received a tip he had left the Portland area. He was returned to Gresham to be interviewed.  

Gresham police said Locker made a 9-1-1 call just after 2 p.m. Tuesday and said a baby, 1-year-old Brooklyn Saechao, hit her head on something inside a home on Northeast Russell Street and was knocked out.

Minutes after emergency crews arrived at the home they summoned police.

Saechao was taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center where doctors discovered she had a bad head injury and was in critical condition.

Investigators determined Saechao’s injuries were suspicious and child abuse detectives and members of the Gresham Police Department Major Crimes Team were called in to assist.

Police said Saechao died from her injuries Thursday while at the hospital.

Locker is in jail awaiting arraignment of murder and first-degree manslaughter.

Neighbors said Locker moved into the apartment with mother and daughter about two months ago.