Deputy testifies New Hudson man tried to kill baby to spend more time with mom

A New Hudson man allegedly wanted more time with his live-in girlfriend and decided to kill the woman's infant son to get him out of the way.

Oakland County Sheriff's Deputy James Ginnel testified Thursday in 52-1 District Court that defendant Seth Theodore Blumberg initially denied injuring five-month-old Brayden Duke, but then changed his statement. The baby was reported to have suffered scratches around his neck, various bruises and petechial hemorrhages — indicative of strangulation — in his eyes.

"(Blumberg) spoke about how he had animosity toward Brayden and wanted to spend more time with (the baby's mother) Sierra Duke," Ginnel said. "He said that he had choked Brayden with his right hand until his lips turned blue. He was holding Brayden in his arms facing him — he said couldn't kill Brayden that way."

So according to his statement to police, Blumberg said he turned the baby over and flopped full-length onto the kitchen floor landing on the infant.

"He fell directly on the baby with what he called dead weight. He said he did it on purpose," Ginnel said. Blumberg was also reported to have told officers that he had removed a corrective helmet from the baby's head to increase the chance of causing injury.

More: New neighbor: Plans approved for gas station, Tim Horton next to New Hudson Cemetery

More: Couple reports coyote snatched family's poodle from suburban back yard

More: Parked in a handicap spot, man charged with smoking pot outside vet's office

The testimony was given at the preliminary examination for Blumberg, 23, who is charged with assault with intent to murder and child abuse, both felonies which carry sentences of up to life in prison if convicted. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf at his arraignment.

The baby's mother, Sierra Duke, 20, testified that she had moved into an apartment with Blumberg and his step-brother March 1. Duke and Blumberg had been dating about a month. She said she had first met Blumberg on Feb. 7. Prior to that, the pair had communicated via text/social media and had mutual friends.

In the two-bedroom apartment at the Kensington Park Apartment Complex, Duke said that the baby slept in the bedroom she shared with Blumberg. During the time they lived at the apartment, Duke testified to several instances when she told Blumberg he was being too rough with the baby.

Along with grabbing the baby's abdomen and picking the baby up by his head, Duke said Blumberg would repeatedly move Brayden's jaw up to make his mouth close and cause his gums to smack together, making a noise.

"He would laugh when he did it. He thought it was funny," Duke said.

During the time she lived with Blumberg, Duke, who was not employed, said she never had left that baby in his care. In late March, Duke said she left the baby sleeping and Blumberg in the shower while she drove to a nearby gas station to buy cigarettes.

When she returned a few minutes later, Blumberg immediately asked her to go back to the gas station to pick up a two-liter bottle of Mountain Dew. When she returned from the second trip, Duke said the baby's helmet was off — Blumberg told her he removed it because it was scratching the baby's neck.

Having noticed light bruises and some red marks on his face, along with scratches on his neck, Duke said she took Brayden to the pediatrician. From there, Brayden was sent to the Farmington Beaumont Hospital emergency room. Child Protective Services and police were called. The baby was admitted to the hospital for treatment.

The hearing before Judge Robert Bondy was adjourned until Tuesday, May 8, to accommodate a medical witness who was unavailable Thursday.

With bond set at $500,000 cash, no 10 percent, Blumberg is being held at the Oakland County Jail. Blumberg has been on probation since March 2016, when he entered guilty pleas to charges of possessing child sexually abusive material and two counts of criminal sexual conduct involving someone ages 13-15, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections. He was to be on probation until 2021 on those cases from Novi.

Contact LeAnne Rogers at lrogers@hometownlife.com or 734-883-9039. Follow her on Twitter: @LRogersObserver.