Florida Couple Accused of Killing Infant, Staging Death Scene to Look Like Sleep
A young couple from Hollywood, Florida, has been arrested and charged with the aggravated manslaughter of their 3-week-old infant, following allegations that they killed the child and then staged his death to make it appear as if he died in his sleep. Crystal Garcia, 21, and Anfernee Watts, 25, were taken into custody on April 8, 2026, in connection with the tragic death of their son in August 2025.
False Statements and Inconsistent Accounts
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by authorities, investigators determined that Garcia and Watts provided multiple false and inconsistent statements to law enforcement in an attempt to conceal the true circumstances surrounding their child's death. The incident occurred at the couple's home in Hollywood, Florida, where emergency crews were called on the afternoon of August 1 after Garcia initially reported finding the boy unresponsive in his playpen.
Watts told investigators he had left early that morning for a job interview, a claim that was later proven to be a lie. Garcia stated that after Watts departed, she fed, cleaned, and changed the baby before putting him down and taking a nap. Upon waking, she said she went to speak with her mother in the home but noticed something was wrong with the child when she returned to her room.
Garcia admitted to touching the baby's eye to see if he would wake up, but the child did not move. Despite this, she did not immediately call 911 or inform anyone else, including her mother, about the situation, explaining that she "didn't want to stress her out."
Investigation Reveals Suffocation and Staging
Investigators later concluded that the child did not die in his sleep. In March, the cause of death was officially ruled as suffocation. Authorities allege that Garcia intentionally restrained the infant by tightly wrapping him in a blanket, strapping him into a car seat, and securing a pacifier in his mouth.
Furthermore, Garcia is accused of placing the car seat in a bathtub, closing the bathroom door, and playing loud music to drown out the baby's cries. Police wrote in the affidavit, "Upon later observing that the baby was unresponsive and appeared deceased, [Garcia] failed to immediately seek medical assistance and instead participated in staging the scene to mislead law enforcement." Both Garcia and Watts are alleged to have knowingly participated in efforts to conceal what had happened.
Evidence of Tampering and Cleanup
During the investigation, authorities noted that the home had been recently cleaned using bleach and wipes, and items within the room appeared altered or removed. Watts reportedly admitted to disposing of baby bottles and other items, while Garcia was captured on surveillance video holding cleaning supplies and throwing out garbage approximately 30 minutes before she called 911 about the infant.
Investigators also observed a disposable changing pad that appeared to have blood spotting on it, and the home had a distinct smell of bleach. Watts attempted to explain this by claiming he accidentally knocked over a jar containing bleach before crews arrived.
Confessions and Additional Charges
Watts' mother informed police that, three days after the baby's death, Garcia admitted to lying about the events. On that same day, Garcia began continuously contacting the police department to "clarify" the information she had provided to investigators. In voice messages, Garcia allegedly stated she "lied" and wanted to tell police that she had smothered the baby.
In addition to aggravated manslaughter of a child, Garcia and Watts are facing charges of:
- Child neglect with great bodily harm
- Tampering with physical evidence
- Failure to report death to a medical examiner
- Knowingly providing false information to law enforcement during an investigation
Both individuals are currently being held in the Broward County Jail as they await trial. The case has drawn significant attention due to the disturbing nature of the allegations and the young age of the victim.
