Christopher Richmond, a 32-year-old South Pasadena man, has been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for the death of his seven-week-old son, Cash, following a high-profile case that has deeply shaken the community. Richmond was convicted in October 2024 of assault on a child causing death and domestic battery with injury. Prosecutors alleged that the infant was suffocated and suffered repeated abuse, ultimately leading to his death after being taken off life support.
A Tragic and Disturbing Case Unfolds
The case began on September 25, 2022, when Richmond called 911 to report that his infant son had stopped breathing while being fed a bottle. However, first responders found the circumstances suspicious, noting that Richmond remained eerily calm while his son lay unresponsive. Emergency dispatchers and paramedics later testified that the baby’s mother was hysterical and crying, while Richmond appeared detached and emotionless.
The baby was rushed to the hospital, where doctors determined that he had suffered multiple blunt force injuries, including broken ribs, a fractured leg, and a cervical spine injury consistent with violent shaking. A doctor at Mattel Children’s Hospital later discovered evidence of two prior incidents of rib fractures, suggesting a pattern of abuse.
Richmond initially told the 911 dispatcher that he had waited 15 to 20 minutes before calling for help—a delay he later reduced to five minutes during a subsequent court hearing.
From Child Abuse Arrest to Murder Charges
Just days later, on September 29, 2022, South Pasadena Police arrested Richmond on felony child abuse charges. As more evidence emerged, the case escalated, and by October 3, 2022, prosecutors added a murder charge, arguing that Richmond’s actions had directly led to his son’s fatal injuries.
The child, Cash, remained hospitalized for nearly four months, fighting for his life before he was ultimately removed from life support on February 17, 2023. An autopsy confirmed that the baby’s death was caused by severe blunt force trauma.
Trial and Sentencing: A Fight for Justice
During Richmond’s trial in September 2024, Deputy District Attorney Brian Rosenberg presented damning evidence of child abuse, urging jurors to hold Richmond accountable. The prosecution played Richmond’s 911 call, highlighting his unsettling lack of urgency and concern.
“He was acting calm, like he didn’t care,” Rosenberg told jurors.
The jury also saw police bodycam footage from the scene, showing Richmond’s stoic demeanor in contrast to the baby’s mother, who was nearly inconsolable.
Jurors ultimately convicted Richmond of assault on a child causing death and domestic battery with injury, though they deadlocked 11-1 on a murder charge, leading to its dismissal. On February 27, 2025, Richmond was sentenced to 26 years to life, the maximum penalty under the law.
Defense Claims of a “Rush to Judgment”
Richmond’s attorney, Michael Hawkins, argued that law enforcement had jumped to conclusions without conducting a thorough investigation. He insisted that while it was clear the baby had been injured, there was no direct evidence proving Richmond had inflicted the fatal injuries.
Hawkins portrayed Richmond as a first-time father who was overwhelmed, stating that his calm demeanor was a coping mechanism rather than a sign of guilt. He also suggested that authorities had accepted the mother’s version of events without question, failing to explore alternative explanations.
“Why would Chris intentionally kill his seven-week-old baby?” Hawkins asked the jury, arguing that no evidence suggested the baby had been crying that day or that Richmond had acted violently at that moment.
Despite the defense’s arguments, jurors were swayed by the overwhelming medical evidence of prior injuries, ultimately leading to Richmond’s lengthy prison sentence.
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