Woman testifies in hearing about baby’s death

NEWPORT, R.I.—The mother of a 6-week-old baby who died in January says her boyfriend initially said the child had fallen from the couch, but then changed his story.

Katysha Lopez testified Thursday in Newport County Superior Court at a bail hearing for her boyfriend, Rachin McCoy. The suspect, who is the child’s father, has been held without bail since his arrest.

He has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Lopez was at her parents’ house doing laundry when her daughter, Naomi, was rushed to the hospital with injuries. She says McCoy first said the child had fallen from the couch, but later told her that he had been playfully tossing the baby into the air and had accidentally dropped her.

The child died three days after being injured.

Testimony continues Friday.