CLOVIS, NM – Authorities in Clovis have arrested a local man after his 5-month-old son was found dead at their home Sunday afternoon, an incident that has left the community shaken.

Jared White, 35, faces charges of child abuse resulting in death and abandonment of a child resulting in death. Curry County jail records show White remains in custody without bond as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.

Officers were dispatched to a residence on Maple Street shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday following reports that an infant was unresponsive. First responders attempted life-saving measures before transporting the baby to Plains Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

Police began their investigation after noticing inconsistencies between White’s account and the physical evidence. According to law enforcement, White told investigators he had left his son in a bouncer while he visited a friend’s house for about an hour. On his return, he said, he discovered the child face down and unresponsive, with visible signs of distress.

However, police say the child’s condition suggested he had been dead for much longer. Detectives noted that the infant was already in full rigor mortis at the time officers arrived, a state which generally develops several hours after death. Medical staff observed that rigor mortis began to release after the child arrived at the hospital, further suggesting the baby had died earlier than White claimed.

Further examination revealed marks on the child’s neck, leading authorities to suspect strangulation may have played a role in the death. An initial witness, identified as a friend of White’s, initially supported White’s timeline but later told police she had seen White strangle the infant several hours before emergency services were called. She reported being too frightened to intervene at the time but eventually left the room.

In subsequent interviews, the same friend recounted events from earlier that night, describing how White allegedly became frustrated with the baby’s crying around 1 a.m. She told authorities that White wrapped the baby in a blanket and lifted him by the neck, allegedly using both hands, while the child was still wrapped.

The residence, police noted, was found in deplorable condition. A second young child was discovered alive in the home and was removed by child protective services. Officers reported finding drug paraphernalia scattered throughout the house, along with signs of neglect, including dirty mattresses, soiled bedding, and a baby bottle containing a cockroach. The second child appeared to suffer from severe diaper rash and was lying on a mattress soaked in urine.

Detectives described White as exhibiting signs of distress and confusion during questioning, vacillating between calm conversations and emotional outbursts.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities await further results from medical examiners and continue to gather evidence. White is currently being held at the Curry County Detention Center as the case proceeds through the legal system.