BARTOW, FL – A 22-year-old Florida man, Jacob Kubai, is facing serious charges in relation to the death of his four-month-old daughter, Willow, as reported by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Kubai’s charges include aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse, and two counts of knowingly abusing a child without causing bodily harm. These charges were announced by Sheriff Grady Judd on Wednesday, following a joint death investigation with the Bartow Police Department that began on February 22.
The investigation was initiated when Willow was admitted to Bartow Regional Medical Center with no brain activity and suspicious physical injuries. The infant was then airlifted to Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, where doctors discovered a fractured skull, multiple brain hemorrhages, broken ribs, and various bruises and scratches. Tragically, Willow succumbed to her injuries two days later.
Sheriff Judd noted that while death investigations can often take months to conclude, the severity of Willow’s injuries left no doubt about the circumstances of her death. He expressed his disbelief at the incident, stating that the father should face the maximum punishment allowed by law.
Neither Kubai nor his wife could provide an explanation for Willow’s injuries during separate interviews with a Polk County detective. Kubai claimed that his daughter was fine during their visit to Walmart that day. However, security footage obtained by detectives showed Kubai alone at a self-checkout register, contradicting his claim. When confronted with this discrepancy, Kubai refused to provide further information.
It was established that Willow was injured while under Kubai’s sole care, as his wife was at work during the three-hour period before Willow was taken to the hospital. The wife confirmed that Willow showed no signs of bruising when she left the house.
An autopsy conducted on Willow revealed multiple blunt force trauma injuries to her head, a swollen and hemorrhaged spine, an acute skull fracture, and ten healing rib fractures. The cause of death was ruled as blunt force trauma of the head, and the manner of death was deemed a homicide.