Man arrested in connection with death of baby niece

Bail was set at $1 million Friday for a man arrested on suspicion of killing his 10-month-old niece while he was baby-sitting at the family's White Center home.

King County District Court Judge Arthur Chapman agreed to a high bail in part because he said the 31-year-old man, said to be an undocumented immigrant with family in California and Mexico, is a high flight risk.

King County prosecutors have yet to charge the man, who is being held in jail in downtown Seattle. The Seattle Times does not usually name people accused of crimes until they have been charged.

The infant, Melissa Carranza-Contreras, died at Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle on Tuesday. The King County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that she died from skull fractures and bleeding in the brain as a result of blunt-force injuries to her head.

Police say the baby's aunt was watching her but had to leave to go meet her own daughter at the bus stop. Police documents released Friday state that the woman's husband, the baby's uncle, stayed behind with the baby.

When the aunt returned, she saw the girl was not breathing.

Police say that while the uncle was watching her, the baby fell off the couch and began to cry. The crying made the uncle mad and frustrated, and he lifted the baby up and threw her to the ground, the report states.

Natalie Singer: 206-464-2704 or nsinger@seattletimes.com