News
Released: May 17, 2021 - Monday, 02:14 PM
During the course of the investigation, Sheriff's Detectives received information the parents of the child, Shawn and Kayla Luhm, were suspected drug users. A search warrant was served at their home in Heritage Ranch where narcotics were discovered.
Additionally, through electronic forensic examinations, investigators discovered an attempt to clean the crime scene before detectives could serve the search warrant. Evidence also revealed the parent's attempt to obtain narcotics while at the hospital where their daughter was being treated at Stanford.
As a result of the three-month investigation, on 5-14-21, Detectives arrested 38-year-old Shawn Luhm and his wife 31-year-old Kayla Luhm for willful cruelty to a child with possible injury or death. Additionally, 36-year-old Melissa Currie of Atascadero was arrested as an accessory for willful cruelty to a child with possible injury or death for her involvement in the crime.
Willful Cruelty to a Child with Possible Injury or Death
Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781-4547Date and time of incident: 2-4-21, Approximately 7:00 PMPlace of Occurrence: 5000 Block of Meadowlark Lane, Heritage RanchVictim Information: Female, 7-months-oldSuspect Information: Shawn Matthew Luhm, 38, Heritage Ranch Kayla Anne Luhm, 31, Heritage Ranch Melissa Dawn Currie, 36, AtascaderoOn 2-4-21, a Sheriff's Deputy responded to assist fire and paramedics for a report of a 7-month-old female who was not breathing in the 5000 block of Meadowlark Lane in Heritage Ranch. The infant was airlifted to Twin Cities Community Hospital and then later to a children's hospital at Stanford University where the infant subsequently died. Doctors determined this was potentially a case of child neglect with exposure to fentanyl. Tests on the child came back positive for exposure to fentanyl and methamphetamine.During the course of the investigation, Sheriff's Detectives received information the parents of the child, Shawn and Kayla Luhm, were suspected drug users. A search warrant was served at their home in Heritage Ranch where narcotics were discovered.
Additionally, through electronic forensic examinations, investigators discovered an attempt to clean the crime scene before detectives could serve the search warrant. Evidence also revealed the parent's attempt to obtain narcotics while at the hospital where their daughter was being treated at Stanford.
As a result of the three-month investigation, on 5-14-21, Detectives arrested 38-year-old Shawn Luhm and his wife 31-year-old Kayla Luhm for willful cruelty to a child with possible injury or death. Additionally, 36-year-old Melissa Currie of Atascadero was arrested as an accessory for willful cruelty to a child with possible injury or death for her involvement in the crime.
