Alex Lewis Marsh, a 21-year-old resident of Midland, recently appeared in court, where he pled no contest to charges related to the tragic death of his infant daughter, Scarlett, back in 2021. The unfortunate incident occurred 16 months ago when Scarlett was left under Marsh’s care while his then-wife, Isabelle, was at work.
On May 17, 2022, a seemingly ordinary evening took a heartbreaking turn. Marsh dropped Isabelle off at her 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. work shift, with Scarlett accompanying them in the car. However, when Marsh returned the next morning to pick Isabelle up, Scarlett was not present.
Disturbing details emerged during the trial, revealing that Marsh placed a 4-pound weighted blanket on Scarlett at some point during the night. He allegedly spent the ensuing hours playing video games until it was time to retrieve Isabelle. Scarlett, tragically, asphyxiated beneath the weighted blanket.
Upon discovering her daughter’s “lifeless” body in her crib, Isabelle reportedly crumpled to her knees, emitting a horrified scream. Midland County Prosecutor, J. Dee Brooks, expressed to the court that while Marsh did not intentionally harm his daughter, the incident was nevertheless a tragic accident.
Marsh’s arrest on May 20, 2022, was predicated on several “inconsistencies” in his recounting of the events that fatal night, including conflicting statements about checking on Scarlett. The prosecution cited a lack of maturity and childcare abilities as potential contributing factors to the tragedy.
As the local community grapples with this heartbreaking incident, Marsh awaits sentencing, and a family remains shattered by an irreversible loss. The Midland Daily News has been diligent in providing ongoing coverage of this deeply sorrowful case.