12-year-old boy accused of smothering 4-month-old baby, gave note to police: ‘I killed my nephew’

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A 12-year-old boy accused of smothering a 4-month-old baby to death last December allegedly approached a police officer at his school and wrote on a piece of paper, "I killed my nephew."

According to CBS12, West Palm Beach police responded to a home on 44th Street to find an infant unresponsive. The baby was pronounced dead at St. Mary's Medical Center.

Several days later, investigators say the boy walked up to an officer at his school with the note, and confessed to placing a pillow over the baby's face to stop his crying.

The final autopsy report from the medical examiner, released May 26, ruled the death a homicide by asphyxia.

An order was issued July 11 to pick up the 12-year-old on a charge of manslaughter; he was arrested on Wednesday and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

The boy is charged with manslaughter in the death of the baby and faced a judge Thursday afternoon. His identity was not released due to his age.

The judge allowed the boy to go home with his mother, with some restrictions. Prosecutors now have 21 days to decide whether or not to charge the boy as an adult.

If charged as an adult, manslaughter carries a maximum 15 year prison sentence.

The boy will be held on house arrest until his next court date, the Palm Beach Post reported.