A Jacksonville father is now at the center of a child homicide case out of Volusia County, accused of causing the injuries that killed his 5-week-old daughter.
Dajuan Patrick, 27, was arrested in Jacksonville on March 11, 2026, on a Volusia County warrant charging him with aggravated manslaughter in the death of his infant daughter, Dahlia Siebenhaar. Dahlia had been rushed to a Daytona Beach hospital on the night of Dec. 2, 2024, unresponsive and suffering severe injuries. She never woke up and was taken off life support on Dec. 12. What started as a frantic medical emergency, investigators say, shifted into a criminal case once doctors and a medical examiner documented the extent of her trauma.
In a statement to WESH, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said, “The arrest in this case won't bring Dahlia back or give her the childhood she deserved, but today we're speaking up for her, because her life mattered.” According to the station, Patrick, who is from Jacksonville, was taken into custody Tuesday by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and is being held without bond while he awaits extradition to Volusia County. Officials have charged him with aggravated manslaughter of a child in connection with the infant's death.
Autopsy finds extensive trauma
An autopsy summarized by WESH found that Dahlia had extensive head trauma, multiple broken ribs, bruising across her body and retinal hemorrhages. Investigators said the medical examiner concluded those injuries were consistent with an infant who had been shaken and “held with extreme force.” Those findings pushed detectives to seek criminal charges.
What the charge means
According to the Florida Senate's online statutes, aggravated manslaughter of a child falls under the state’s homicide laws and is treated as a first-degree felony; see Florida Statutes, Chapter 782. Under Florida’s criminal punishment rules, a first-degree felony can carry a statutory maximum of up to 30 years in prison, as outlined in Florida Statutes §775.082. Prosecutors in Volusia County will determine whether to seek any additional charges as the case moves through extradition and early court hearings.
Medical context
Medical specialists say that a cluster of findings like intracranial injury, retinal hemorrhages and rib fractures in an infant is strongly suggestive of abusive head trauma. Guidance from the CDC and a technical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that such injury patterns typically trigger a full child-abuse evaluation by a multidisciplinary team. The agencies emphasize that timely reporting and coordinated work among medical providers, social services and law enforcement are central to protecting other children and supporting investigations.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office says the investigation is still active and that more details will be released as the charges work their way through the courts. WESH reported that Patrick remains in custody in Jacksonville awaiting extradition to Volusia County, where prosecutors will set the next steps once he is transferred. Authorities have not offered additional public comment beyond the statements already released.
