Murder in Manchester: Child Victim

On Target News was where you read and heard the following information first.
In less than a week, Coffee County has another murder case being investigated. We reported last week about a homicide at Lakewood Park that left a 68 year-old man dead and two people facing charges.
Now this story; On Saturday afternoon personnel from Tennova Harton Hospital in Tullahoma contacted Manchester Police that a child had been brought to the hospital with severe head trauma. The 6-week old child was airlifted to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital where it passed away around 6 am Sunday morning.
Manchester Chief Investigator Brandon Tomberlin told On Target News that 21 year-old Gavin Clark (the Father) of 1313 McArthur Drive in Manchester was first charged with aggravated child abuse (Haley’s Law). After the child was pronounced deceased, Clark was charged with 1st Degree Murder. He is being housed at the Coffee County Jail under a $2 million bond.
Tomberlin added that an autopsy is being conducted on (Monday) and the case is still under investigation.
Clark will appear in court later this month.

WHAT IS HALEY’S LAW
**Haley’s Law constitutes aggravated child abuse or aggravated child neglect. The law makes it a Class A felony to abuse a child under the age of 9 in a way that leads to bodily injury. A Class A felony is punishable by a minimum 15-year sentence with a maximum of 60 years or life in prison. Under state law, serious bodily injury means bodily injury involving a substantial risk of death and carries with it enhanced punishment.
Haley’s Law was passed following a 2004 case in East Tennessee when “Baby Haley” was found badly abused with burns all over her body. Her eyes were swollen shut and her ears bleeding. She has since made a dramatic recovery.