ROCKLAND, Maine – A 24-year-old Rockland man was being held in jail following his initial court appearance on a manslaughter charge in the death of his 9-week-old daughter.
Robert Harford was taken to Knox County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail following his hearing in Knox County Superior Court on Friday. Harford’s next court appearance will be Oct. 29.
Harford was arrested Wednesday night in the death of Ava Harford. Authorities say the girl was unresponsive when taken by ambulance from her home Sunday evening and died Tuesday night at Maine Medical Center in Portland. An autopsy Wednesday found that Ava died of multiple blunt force head injuries.
An affidavit says Harford initially told police he dropped the child after picking her up from a couch, but he later changed his story and says he threw her to the floor.