ALLEGAN, Mich. — On May 11, 2020, Kayden Blackmer died. Court documents obtained by FOX 17 are providing new information on the types of injuries he and his sister, Rosalee Blackmer sustained.
In court today, Joshua Martin was charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse in connection to Kayden's death. His bond is set at $50,000.
Kayden's cause of death was determined as a homicide after autopsy results came in. An affidavit filed in the 57th District Court in Allegan County details how those injuries may have happened.
The documents explain that Kayden was left in the care of Joshua Martin, who is charged with second-degree child abuse for hurting Rosalee Blackmer, Kayden's sister. Martin is described as the boyfriend of the children's mother, Khiertsen Powers.
May 12, 2020, Martin was interviewed by the Allegan County Sheriff's department.
In that interview, the documents say Martin admitted to "wrestling rough" with Kayden. It goes on to describe how Martin would play with him, saying he would throw him onto the bed and when he would do this Kayden would hit his head on the wall and it would "hurt him very bad."
Martin re-enacted those actions according to court documents, saying he would pick Kayden up like he was lifting weights, up to his chest, and slam him on the bed.
Martin said in that interview that he would sometimes accidentally miss the bed and Kayden would hit the floor or the wall.
On May 9, 2020, two days before Kayden died, Martin admitted to throwing Kayden "too hard" and wanted to take him to the hospital right away but instead waited for Powers to come home.
Shortly after the Kayden's mother got home, he vomited. Powers left to go get Ginger Ale and Ibuprofen from a local store.
While she was gone, Martin told authorities Kayden started to breathe funny and when he went to check on him he was blue. Martin said he tried to give Kayden CPR, but ended up putting him in the car and taking him to the Allegan County General hospital.
He stated in that interview that he caused the injuries that killed Kayden.
Cause of death by the medical examiner's office state that Kayden died due to complications of multiple injuries as well as traumatic brain injury.
While at the hospital for Kayden, injuries to his little sister Rosalee were discovered.
An affidavit for the charges Martin is facing in connection to her abuse detail his account of what happened to her.
The 10-month-old baby had a skull fracture and seven broken ribs in various healing stages, according to court documents.
Martin said in an interview with authorities that he recalled a time where Rosalee fell from his lap to the floor while he was reaching for something. He also stated he remembered dropping Rosalee on her face and sometimes would throw Rosalee up into the air and miss catching her.
Martin also stated he would throw Rosalee into the crib and bed.
Court documents say when Martin was asked why they did not take the children to the hospital when they sustained these injuries, it was because they were fearful the children would be taken away.
