LOGAN — A Logan couple has been arrested and charged with murder in the death of their infant child. Zachary Michael Woirhaye, 38, and Jodi Lee Anderson, 34, were booked into the Cache County Jail Thursday after officers alleged they starved their one-month old baby to death.
Logan City Police Chief Gary Jensen said their investigation began December 31, when officers were called to a hotel room. The 46-day-old infant boy was found lying on a bed, unresponsive, not breathing and with no heartbeat.
“Life saving measures were applied by police and paramedics,” explained Jensen. “EMS took the baby to the hospital and was ultimately transferred to Primary Children’s Medical Center, where doctors were able to establish that the baby had no brain activity. The family later decided to remove the boy off life support and he passed away.”
According to an arrest affidavit, the baby died January 12, 2022. The family had been residing at the hotel during the last several weeks of December.
Officers responded to Logan Regional Hospital shortly after the paramedics transported the boy. They alleged the baby “appeared extremely sick and frail,” the report detailed. Medical staff said the boy was unhealthy, and showed signs of malnourishment and neglect.
Police later interviewed extended family members, who expressed concerns about both Woirhaye and Anderson’s mental capacity. They claimed the suspects had to be continually reminded about feeding the baby enough baby formula.
The Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office determined the baby died of malnutrition. They noted that when boy was born, he weighed 7.7 pounds. When he died, he was 6.8 pounds.
Jensen said Thursday’s arrests of Woirhaye and Anderson came after a lengthy investigation during the past six months.
“So after a heavy investigation on all fronts, witness statements, interviews with the medical examiner’s office and medical professionals, the county attorney has chosen to charge both mother and father with aggravated murder.”
Woirhaye and Anderson were arraigned Friday in 1st District Court, appearing by web conference from jail. Both were charged with aggravated murder, a capital offense. Jodi was also charged with obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Josh Nemeth said prosecutors were not planning on seeking the death penalty against either suspect. He asked the court to keep the two in jail, claiming they had discussed fleeing the area before being arrested.
Judge Spencer Walsh agreed to postpone considering bail while attorneys review the evidence in the case. He ordered Woirhaye to appear again in court July 27. Anderson was scheduled to appear again August 1.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
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That’s horrible. That poor little baby.
I can’t even with people these days! I would have taken that precious boy, no questions asked! As a mother who has had to bury her baby, this sickens me! Just because you can have children doesn’t mean you should!
I saw the comments on FB, people defending them saying that they are low function. Even if you are low function you know you should feed a baby, especially if everyone tells you to. Instead of starving a child to death willingly, why didn’t they give the baby to someone if they didn’t want it. Why didn’t the extended family do something? See something, say something. That poor little baby being starved to death. What a painful way to die.
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