Troy Father Charged with Killing 3-Month-Old Daughter

Troy resident Kenneth Michael Little, 25, was arraigned Thursday afternoon at 52-4 District Court in Troy, where he was charged with homicide-open murder and involuntary manslaughter following his daughter's death early Monday morning.

Judge Kirsten Nielsen Hartig denied bond in the case; Little remains in police custody and will be lodged at the Oakland County Jail.

Little, who did not speak and showed little emotion during his arraignment, is accused of killing his 3-month-old daughter, Kendalyn Elizabeth-Rose Little. An autopsy conducted Tuesday revealed Kendalyn's cause of death was homicide by blunt force trauma.

"Through our conversations with the defendant, we were able to establish a case," said Troy Police Capt. Robert Redmond. He added that Child Protective Services have been to the family's Troy home in the past, though not in connection with the Little family.

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Little, who works as a security guard and has no criminal history, entered a plea of not guilty. He and his wife of one year, Christen Little, had been living in the basement of a Troy home they shared with several other individuals when the incident occurred. The couple also has a 1-year-old son.

On Monday, officers responding to a 911 call about an "unresponsive" baby just after 2 a.m. were met outside the Troy home by the hysterical mother, who directed officers to the basement of the home.

According to a media release from the police department, officers found the infant "lying on a rug on the floor of the bedroom with the father standing several feet away." Alliance Ambulance medical personnel arrived with the officers, picked up Kendalyn, began CPR and immediately transported her to St. John's Hospital Oakland. She was pronounced dead at 3:04 a.m. 

The Oakland County Medical Examiners Officer conducted an autopsy on Monday, and based on their findings, the cause of death was ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma.

Little is scheduled to appear in court again Monday morning in front of Judge William Bolle at 52-4 District Court in Troy.

A fund has been set up in Kendalyn's name to help pay for her funeral. To learn how to donate, click here.