Nashua man held without bond, accused of murder in baby's death

By JOSH NELSON and DENNIS MAGEE, Courier Staff Writers

NEW HAMPTON - A father accused of killing his 12-day-old daughter will remain in jail until his case works its way through court.

Randy Lee Blanchard, 31, is charged with first-degree murder. He made his initial appearance Thursday in Chickasaw County District Court after being extradited to Iowa from Olmstead County, Minn.

Magistrate Christine Skilton ordered Blanchard held without bond because he is charged with a Class A felony. If convicted, Blanchard faces life in prison without parole.

Blanchard's daughter, Aliya, died Saturday at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

Authorities in Chickasaw County initially charged Blanchard with child endangerment causing serious injury, a Class C felony, for allegedly shaking the infant.

Chickasaw County deputy Reed Palo noted in his initial criminal complaint the "injuries are life threatening and likely to cause the death of the child." At the time Palo wrote the report, he stated the infant was on life support.

After the baby's death, authorities raised the charge to murder.

According to the second criminal complaint filed in the case, Blanchard "shook and struck the head of his infant child." The document also indicates the shaking caused "massive subarachnoid hemorrhages throughout the infant's entire brain."

The injury results in bleeding in the space between the brain and the skull.

"These injuries were massive and subsequently caused her brain death," according to the criminal complaint.

Aliya was taken to Floyd County Memorial Hospital and transferred to Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo on Feb. 5.

Hospital security officials contacted the Nashua Police Department after physicians determined the baby girl's injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome.

Blanchard is being represented by the State Public Defender's Office.

Olmstead County arrested Blanchard on Friday and charged him with being a fugitive from justice from another state for fleeing Iowa to avoid prosecution. According to court documents, Blanchard told a deputy he was aware of the warrant and charges in Iowa. He also reportedly stated he wanted to return to this state and that he would not fight extradition.

Contact Dennis Magee at (319) 291-1451 or dennis.magee@wcfcourier.com.