WILTON – Police arrested a 25-year-old Wilton man and charged him in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s baby.
David Cook, 25, was arrested and charged with manslaughter today in the death of 17-month-old Matteo Hansen, who was the son of Cook’s girlfriend, Brandy Swett. The toddler died on Nov. 29 after falling down a flight of stairs at his mother’s apartment in Wilton. Hanson was pronounced dead at Franklin Memorial Hospital after being rushed there from Swett’s Wilton apartment by ambulance. State police and the Wilton Police Department have been investigating the death since the report.
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The State Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the death a homicide and the Maine Attorney General’s Office authorized an arrest warrant for Cook. According to state police spokesman Steve McCausland, Cook, who lives with his mother on Route 156 in Wilton, was alone with the boy and his three-year-old sister, Keeshia, the morning of the boy’s death. He called 911 to report the boy was unresponsive after falling down the stairs in Swett’s apartment.
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Although Cook did not live in the apartment, he occasionally stayed overnight. Swett was at work when Cook called for an ambulance, McCausland said.
Cook was arrested by State Police Detective Jeffrey Love about 12:30 p.m. at Cook’s mother’s home. Assisting in the arrest was a state trooper and two agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. Cook offered no resistance and was taken to the Franklin County jail in Farmington.
He was also charged with violating his bail conditions, in connection with an assault arrest in Lewiston in September.
Cook will make his first court appearance on Monday in Lewiston District Court.
