MESQUITE, Texas — A Mesquite man who was initially arrested for violating a protective order is now facing a capital murder charge after an autopsy determined that a 4-month-old infant in his care died from severe blunt force injuries that investigators say were intentionally inflicted.

Jayeshaun Demonde Spencer, 24, was arrested by Mesquite police on Thursday in connection with the death of 4-month-old Alayah Hogan. According to a recently released arrest warrant affidavit, Dallas County Medical Examiner Dr. Duscat ruled Alayah’s death a homicide, citing a significant skull fracture and concluding that her injuries could not have resulted from an accidental fall.

The investigation began on the afternoon of May 9, 2026, when emergency responders were called to the Lane Apartments on Towne Crossing Boulevard. Upon arrival, first responders found Alayah unresponsive and struggling to breathe. She was airlifted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas and placed on life support. Six days later, on May 15, she was declared brain-ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

According to investigators, Spencer had been left alone to care for the infant while her mother, Alana Hogan, attended a garage sale. Spencer initially told authorities that he had propped a bottle for the baby using a blanket, left her in a car seat, and briefly went to the restroom. He claimed that when he returned, he found her gagging and turning purple.

As doctors examined the child, medical imaging revealed injuries that raised serious concerns. Hospital staff discovered multiple skull fractures in various stages of healing, bleeding on the brain, and a recently fractured leg. A later autopsy confirmed a large fatal skull fracture, two broken femurs, and a healing rib fracture.

The affidavit further states that while Spencer was being held at the Mesquite City Jail on the day of the incident, he contacted the child’s mother and reportedly admitted that he had experienced an “accident” in which he fell on top of the infant. However, the medical examiner determined that the severity of the injuries required a level of force inconsistent with an accidental fall.

Speaking about her daughter, Alana Hogan shared a heartfelt statement with FOX 4:

“Alayah was such a bright and beautiful baby. She was very easygoing, tiny, and full of so much light. One thing that always stood out most about her was her big beautiful brown eyes. She was always smiling and giggling more than crying. She loved cuddling and falling asleep beside me. There’s so much more that could be said about her, but it’s so hard to put into words right now.”

Authorities also discovered that Spencer was violating a family violence protective order that had been issued in March. The order prohibited him from coming within 300 yards of Alana Hogan or her residence. He was arrested at the scene for that violation before the capital murder charge was later filed.

In a bail request form, Detective N. Hopkins identified Spencer as the common-law spouse of the child’s mother. Investigators ultimately filed the capital murder charge after determining that Spencer was the only caregiver present at the time Alayah sustained her fatal injuries and after noting multiple inconsistencies in his statements to police.

Spencer remains in custody. Meanwhile, Child Protective Services has taken custody of another young child who was living in the home.