Trial of accused baby killer postponed

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The trial of a man charged with murder in the death of his 7-week-old daughter won’t go forward this month.

Gregory Higgins, 37, had a hearing Tuesday to determine if attorneys were ready for trial. Court records show another hearing is now scheduled for later this month at which a new trial date will be set.

Higgins remains in custody on $2 million bail.

On Sept. 15, 2021, police were dispatched to a report of a baby not breathing at a home in northwest Bakersfield. Medical personnel rushed the child to a hospital, where doctors found injuries consistent with child abuse, police said.

The baby died at the hospital.

Higgins told police he was home with the baby while his wife and their other two other children went to pick up lunch, according to court documents. He said the child started fussing in her bassinet and he held her.

She stopped breathing, he told police, and he called 911 and gave her CPR until help arrived.

In a follow-up interview, Higgins old investigators he bumped the baby’s head on a glass table the month before while removing her from the bassinet, according to court documents. He said the injury was minor, and other injuries found may have been unintentionally inflicted when he performed CPR.

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