Monday 6pm: Bond Hearing

Family & Friends Hold Candlelight Vigil

Man Charged in Infant Daughter's Death

MONDAY EVENING UPDATE:

The Portsmouth man charged with killing his infant daughter while vacationing at Myrtle Beach is on his way home.

Miles Ferguson was in court Monday for a bond hearing. Prosecutors asked the South Carolina judge to deny any bond, but a top defense lawyer and heavy persuasion from Portsmouth may have helped the judge set a $50,000 bond.

Police say Ferguson shook the five week old baby hard enough to produce injuries consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome, and they say that warrants the homicide by child abuse charge

Before setting bond, the judge read from the 1,000 name character petitions sent in from Ferguson’s Portsmouth church supporters along with more than 200 letters and e-mails. Those church members believe a prayer circle 50 strong around the Ferguson home helped bond Miles out of jail.

His pastor says Ferguson told him from his cell that 5 week old Mylee's deadly injuries came from a horrible unintentional accident.

“He picked up the baby and shook it to wake it up and it went limp,” Rev. Rodney Kincaid said.

But a St. Mary's pediatrician says the infant's cause of death in the preliminary autopsy report cites a closed head injury, showing that an excessive degree of force was likely used.

"A hardy shake will cause internal injury because the infants connecting head tissues aren't strong enough to hold,” Dr. Sharon DiCristofaro said.

Dr. Di Cristofaro says police reports of eye hemorrhaging and body bruises on Mylee Ferguson are consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome and that the injuries are often delivered by a young, first time parent, and once is often all it takes.

The frustration can grow and a person can cause injury in just a few seconds. It is often much more than the first reports of just mild shaking,” Dr. DiCristofaro said.

The prosecutor in this case said she was surprised by such a low bond for such a high criminal charge. Under the bond restrictions, Miles Lee Ferguson cannot leave Ohio, unless it's to go back to Horry County, SC. And he cannot be with children unless an adult is present.

The next legal step is likely a probable cause hearing. That has not been scheduled.

If he’s found guilty, Miles Lee Ferguson faces a possible 20 years to life in prison.

Miles Lee Ferguson appeared before a judge in Myrtle Beach, SC Monday morning.

During that hearing, a judge set Ferguson’s bond at $50,000. As a condition of the bond, Ferguson will be allowed to return to Portsmouth, Ohio. He must also surrender his passport, and can only be around children when in the presence of other adults.

Ferguson who is from Portsmouth was on vacation with his family at Myrtle Beach when he was arrested.

Mylee Ferguson who was 5 weeks old was taken to the hospital when she stopped breathing.

Police say hospital workers noticed Mylee's injuries were consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome. That's when officers arrested Ferguson.

When the little girl died, Miles was charged with homicide by child abuse.

Over the weekend, the Horry County, SC Coroner released preliminary autopsy results..

Coroner Robert Edge tells us that the girl's cause of death was a closed head injury.

Police say that supports their theory that Miles caused his daughter's death.

However, family and friends are adamant that Miles is a devout Christian. They say he would never intentionally hurt his little girl.

Police in the Myrtle Beach area are now charging a vacationing Portsmouth man with the child abuse death of his infant daughter. Horry County Police arrested Miles Lee Ferguson.

The baby was in the hospital: and officers say her injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome.

But family and friends gathered in Portsmouth Friday for a candlelight vigil: to support what they call a young father, a devout Christian and a loving husband: panicked when his daughter Mylee stopped breathing.

Ronald Lowrey was at the vigil. He says, "Miles is a good man he is a strong active member of the church a strong active member of this community and it saddens me that this system has found this man guilty before he has had a chance to go trail even before a judge."

Horry County police say Miles Lee Ferguson's bond hearing on the homicide charge will happen early next week.

A Portsmouth father vacationing with his family in Myrtle Beach is now charged with murdering his infant daughter. Miles Lee Ferguson was arrested Monday after calling 911 over health problems with his daughter Mylee.

Horry County, South Carolina police tell NewsChannel 3 one of the two hospitals treating the infant contacted them noting facial hemorrhaging and bruises on the baby girl.

Police say Mylee Ferguson died Thursday night, and they say the baby's injuries are consistent with the hospital's findings.

Her father now faces the charge of homicide by child abuse.

Ferguson remains in a South Carolina jail with no bond set yet.

Stay tuned to WSAZ NewsChannel 3 and WSAZ.com for the latest on this developing story.