NASHUA - A Nashua father was charged Tuesday with murdering his newborn daughter, days after she was hospitalized with symptoms of "shaken baby syndrome."

Randy Lee Blanchard, 31, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Aliya Blanchard, according to officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Aliya died Monday at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn. She was 12 days old.

An autopsy was planned Tuesday in Rochester.

Randy Blanchard had been in custody in Minnesota. Following a hearing this morning, he waived extradition back to Iowa to face the murder charge, which carries a mandatory life term in prison upon conviction.

Aliya was taken to Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City Feb. 5 and then transferred to Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo with injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome, DCI officials said.

Hospital security staff contacted authorities at the Nashua Police Department because of the baby's condition, and Aliya was moved to the intensive care unit at Saint Mary's.

Blanchard was arrested for child endangerment causing serious injury on Friday and was taken into custody by the Olmstead County Sheriff's Office.

The Nashua Police Department is being assisted by the Chickasaw County Sheriff's Office, the Chickasaw County Attorney, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Aliya was the daughter of Blanchard and Annette Eilderts, 700 Andrews St., Nashua.

Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.