Norwich Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Death of Girlfriend's Baby

A Norwich man charged in the death of his girlfriend’s 13-month-old daughter has been sentenced to at least 14 years in prison after pleading guilty in July  to manslaughter, according to New London Superior Court.

Michael A. Rios, 22, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on Thursday, July 17 and has since been sentenced to 20 years in prison suspended after 14 and five years of probation after that, the court said. He was babysitting 13-month-old Madison Reid when the child sustained fatal injuries.

Madison had bleeding on the brain and her death was ruled a homicide, the medical examiner’s office said.

According to the affidavit, Rios told police he shook the baby “very hard” and performed CPR after she fell from a bed in May.

Rios saw she wasn't breathing right and brought her to William W. Backus Hospital. Madison was airlifted to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where she died, the affidavit says.

He was arrested within 48 hours of her death.

Rios will be sentenced to 20 years in prison, suspended after 14 years, and is due back in court Sept. 29, according to the court.

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