Lilly was found dead in Mercer County and authorities said it appears she died in Clark County from a subdermal hematoma to the brain, which is common for babies who were shaken.
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The plea was changed in Clark County Common Pleas Court last month. Hayslip was scheduled to undergo a forensic evaluation last Friday. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment whether that evaluation was completed.
Public Defender Shawn Murphy, Hayslip’s lawyer, couldn’t be reached for comment Monday. A future court date hasn’t been set in the case, according to court documents.
An affidavit written by a detective at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in December alleges Hayslip told investigators that he was alone with the child when Lilly died.
“Mr. Hayslip admitted to shaking the baby, which resulted in the baby’s death while at his residence,” Clark County Sheriff’s Office Detective Andrew Reynolds wrote in the affidavit. “Mr. Hayslip stated to Mercer County detectives that he was feeding the baby and she began to cry and he shook her for a brief time. Mr. Hayslip advised he then put the baby down and the baby continued to cry and he began to shake the baby again and the child began to vomit onto her clothes, couch and play mat.”
Hayslip was arrested in a field close to where Lilly was found dead, police said.
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In an exclusive jailhouse interview with this news organization after his arrest, Hayslip said that he was sorry and he wished he could take back his actions.
“I don’t know why I did it,” Hayslip said. “I really don’t. I have had anger problems my whole life.”
He said he didn’t know the child was dead and was panicking when he drove her to Mercer County.
“I was honestly just driving,” he said. “I didn’t know she was gone. I was panicking. I was scared.”
He said he was scared that, “I might have done something that I would regret doing.”
Clark County Common Prosecutor Andy Wilson declined to comment Monday, saying it would be inappropriate for him to talk about the case while it’s still pending.
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