FARGO (trfnews.i234.me) – A 29-year-old St. Michael man, Collin Delorme, has pleaded guilty to child abuse in the tragic death of a one-year-old on the Spirit Lake Reservation. The incident occurred in February 2023 when Delorme’s co-defendant called 911 to report the child was unresponsive. The child was rushed to a hospital in Devils Lake but did not survive.
An autopsy revealed the cause of death was battery from multiple internal and external injuries of various ages, with untreated wounds leading to infection and sepsis. Among the injuries was a spinal fracture, which Delorme claimed occurred during a fall.
Delorme now faces up to 40 years in prison for his role in the child’s death. His co-defendant, Kenzie Baker, pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect in August.
United States Attorney Mac Schneider condemned the treatment of the child, calling the guilty plea a step towards accountability for this horrific case of abuse.