On August 21, 2024 at 11:06 a.m., Milford Police received a call from the Mayflower Motel reporting that housekeeping staff discovered an unresponsive toddler in the bathtub of an abandoned room.
Milford Police performed CPR on the infant until paramedics arrived and took over life-saving measures. The infant was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital and pronounced dead at 11:56 a.m. Milford Police Detectives and the Milford District Attorney’s Office responded and took over the investigation.
The investigation revealed that Dale Kirkland, 31, of Bridgeport rented the room in question and checked out on the morning of August 21, 2024.
It is believed that Kirkland arrived at the motel with the toddler on the evening of August 20, 2024 and checked out, leaving the toddler behind.
Kirkland was located in Bridgeport with the assistance of the Bridgeport Police Department. He was taken into custody and transported to the Milford Police Department where he was charged with endangerment of minors and cruelty to persons.
He is currently being held on $1 million bail. Kirkland is scheduled to be arraigned in Milford court today, with additional charges possibly pending.
