West Virginia baby dies following sexual assault by mom’s boyfriend

A West Virginia community is in mourning following the tragic news that 10-month-old Emmaleigh Barringer has died after police allege she was sexually assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend.

Benjamin Taylor is believed to have assaulted Amanda Adkins’ baby girl in the basement of her Ripley, West Virginia apartment while she and her other three children were asleep. According to WSAZ, Taylor told the police that he took the infant to the basement to do laundry but then changed his stories multiple times adding that he “blacked out” when asked how the child received her injuries.

According to a criminal complaint, Taylor made no attempt to save the child’s life following injuries sustained in the brutal assault. Taylor was arrested and charged initially with first degree sexual assault.

Baby Emmaleigh was pronounced brain-dead on Tuesday following the attack which happened either late Sunday night or early Monday morning. She was pronounced dead on Wednesday. Taylor was subsequently arraigned Thursday and charged with first degree murder.

A family member told WSAZ, “The only way justice is going to be served is if he feels every ounce of pain that he caused her too… It wasn’t enough that he took her innocence, he had to take her life too.”

The family released the following statement:

“Emmaleigh’s mother and surviving siblings were victims in this and are guilty only of placing trust in the hands of a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing.’ We have set up a GoFundMe account for donations from the public to help the victims recover from this tragedy and aid in the funeral and burial costs that will be incurred.”

Sheriff Tony Boggs said that the investigation is still ongoing, but noted that the mother has not been accused of any wrongdoing.