Local man faces murder charges

PARADISE VALLEY —  A local man is facing murder charges stemming from a December 2023 alleged battery of a 6-month-old infant.

Joseph Chester Munro Albert, 22, is charged with first-degree murder after law enforcement claim he allegedly battered the infant,  which resulted in fatal brain injury. 

On December 25, 2023, in the 4000 block of Cow Creek Road, a six week old was unresponsive and sent to Boundary Community Hospital. The infant was then transferred to Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital in Spokane  where she was initially diagnosed with traumatic head trauma. 

When Albert was interviewed by the Spokane Police, he said he went to bed at about 11 p.m. on Dec. 24  and didn’t wake up until 7 a.m. According to court documents, 40 minutes into the interview Albert allegedly said he went into the baby’s room at 12:15 a.m. after hearing her cry.

He said he “bob” or “bounced” her for about 10 minutes until she quieted. In a letter to the child’s mother, he said the child was angry and screaming as he tried to put her to bed. 

He allegedly said he bounced her too many times and was “too rough.” He displayed how he bounced the child on his knee to law enforcement. 

On December 31, 2023, the baby passed away at Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital. 

On May 6, 2024 an autopsy report conducted by Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office was sent to the Boundary County Sheriff’s Department.  

Dr. Sean Ricciardo, forensic pathologist with the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office, wrote in the autopsy report, sent to the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month, that it was his opinion that the death was a homicide. He indicated the death was due to head trauma.

The Boundary County Prosecutor Andraky Pluid wrote in a notice of intent that she will not be seeking a death sentence in this case. 

Bond is set to $250,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, May 17 at 1:30 p.m.