Fatherhood of slain mother’s baby confirmed

Judge orders dad to name daugher; her condition is stable

By Joseph M. Dougherty Deseret Morning News

The baby who was delivered shortly after her mother was fatally shot still does not have a name, but the state knows who her father is.

 The results for Carlos Najera's paternity test came back Tuesday and indicated he is the baby's father.

 Third District Juvenile Court Judge Andrew Valdez ordered Najera, who was not in court Tuesday, to go to LDS Hospital to name his daughter.

 An attorney will also be appointed to represent Najera, Valdez said.

 As of now, the baby is known to the state as Baby Woundedhead. Her mother, Darla Marie Woundedhead, was killed by a shotgun blast at the Dream Inn motel Aug. 18. Four suspects have been charged in 3rd District Court with first-degree felony criminal homicide and two counts of aggravated robbery.

 The baby, delivered that same day by emergency C-section, was 13 weeks early.

 Department of Child and Family Services social worker Brittany Jones reported to Valdez that the baby girl's condition has stabilized

The girl is on life support because she can't yet breathe on her own and has fluid on the brain that doesn't drain properly, Jones said. Doctors perform an ultrasound on the baby's head each week to monitor the brain's condition and are contemplating surgery.

She doesn't take fluids and must be fed intravenously, Jones said. And she is on medication for seizures and symptoms of withdrawal. The baby was born with cocaine, opiates and barbiturates in her blood.

The Oglala Sioux tribe, located in South Dakota, has filed a motion to intervene in the case, not to take jurisdiction over it, but to participate because Darla Woundedhead was a member of the tribe, said tribe attorney Marie Foxbelly during a speakerphone conversation with Valdez.

Valdez said the tribe will be included in the future proceedings.