New details have emerged in the death of the toddler found unresponsive outside the Thomaston Walmart back in May.
Aziayh Scott, 23, who has been charged with manslaughter, appeared Wednesday in Knox County Superior Court in Rockland via videoconference for a hearing on a motion to reduce his bail, according to the Portland Press Herald.
Scott is currently being held on $150,000 at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.
Scott allegedly caused the death of 22-month-old Quayshawn Wilson, who became unresponsive and stopped breathing in the parking lot of the Thomaston Walmart about 7:26 p.m. on May 29.
Wilson was taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport, where the toddler died.
Scott had been watching Wilson that day while his mother, Shaneka Washington, went to work as a traveling nurse. Scott later left their apartment in Owls Head with Wilson to pick up Washington before going to Walmart.
Neighbors told police that Scott was carrying Wilson, whose head was tilted back “in a very concerning manner,” according to the Press Herald.
The Maine medical examiner’s office later determined Wilson died of blunt force trauma and ruled the death a homicide.
Assistant Attorney General Jen Ackerman told the court Wednesday that Wilson had a “severely lacerated liver,” suggesting someone may have stomped on the child, the Press Herald reported.
Scott, who is from Louisiana, had moved to Maine and was living with Washington in Owls Head.
When police went to the Owls Head residence, they found the couple had returned to Louisiana, the Maine State Police said earlier this year.
Scott was arrested on June 5 in New Orleans by Louisiana State Police. He was taken to the Orleans Parish Prison to await extradition to Maine.
While at the Louisiana jail, Scott allegedly made many calls to Washington, asking her to tell authorities he was innocent. Ackerman suggested those calls could amount to witness tampering. Washington is a witness for the state in the case, according to the Press Herald.
But Scott’s attorney, Chris MacLean, said that “may not be entirely accurate,” saying that the conversations between Scott and Washington were long and covered many topics, the Press Herald reported.
MacLean requested the court reduce Scott’s bail to $15,000, according to the newspaper.
If he makes bail, Scott would have to stay within Knox County and report to the sheriff’s office.
