Delaware County Man Faces Murder Charge In Death Of 2-Year-Old Girl

NewsOn6.com

DELAWARE COUNTY -- Delaware County authorities have charged a Kansas, Oklahoma man with murder in the death of a 2-year-old girl.

The girl's mother found her unresponsive Monday at a home in the area of Kansas, Oklahoma.

Delaware County authorities have determined the girl was a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome and suffered severe cerebral edema and shock.  She later died at a Tulsa hospital.

Authorities say Roger L. Dry, 35, was watching the girl at the time she was found unresponsive.

He has now been charged in Delaware County with first-degree murder.

According to the Delaware County Sheriff's Office, Dry said he was upset with the child when she began crying and wouldn't stop.

Dry told authorities he spanked the girl, who was the daughter of his girlfriend, and shook the girl.

The mother of the girl, Mary Bartleson, left the child in Dry's care while she took her other child to school, according to reports.

When she returned, she called emergency services.

Cherokee Nation Ambulance, Oaks, Oklahoma first responders, along with a deputy with the Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene and the baby was transported by Air Evac to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.

The child was pronounced dead shortly before 3 p.m. Monday.

Roger L. Dry was arrested and transported to the Delaware County Jail, where he remains.

The case is under investigation by the Delaware County Sheriff's Office and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.