UPDATE: Charge against Central Texas father upgraded to capital murder in death of infant

COPPERAS COVE, Texas (KWTX) - The charge against the father of a five-month-old infant who died after being found unresponsive was upgraded to capital murder, KWTX has confirmed.

Kyle Matthew Steele was arrested in mid-November and initially charged with injury to a child.

On Nov. 11, Copperas Cove police officers were sent to a residence in the 300 block of Erby Avenue for a report of a five-month-old infant who was not breathing.

Police say officers arrived and located the infant’s father, Steele, who was the only adult in the home at the time.

According to CCPD, the infant was unresponsive and not breathing. Officers immediately began life-saving measures until Copperas Cove Fire and EMS arrived and took over care.

The infant was taken to a nearby hospital and was later pronounced dead.

An autopsy was completed and the medical examiner said that the infant suffered injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.

Following the investigation, investigators obtained a warrant for the arrest of Steele for Injury to a Child with intentional serious bodily injury.

Steele was arrested on the outstanding warrant on Nov. 14. He was arraigned by Coryell County Justice of the Peace John Guinn on Nov. 15.

Copyright 2025 KWTX. All rights reserved.