WEST READING, Pennsylvania — A newborn baby is dead, and his own parents are now facing criminal homicide charges after investigators say the infant was fatally harmed inside the maternity ward of a Pennsylvania hospital — the very place meant to welcome him safely into the world.
Kevin Canaan, 28, of Reading, Pennsylvania, and Yeniffer Tavarez-Cepeda, 25, of New York, New York, were both taken into custody on May 19, 2026, after a weeks-long investigation into the death of their newborn son.
A Nurse’s Instinct Triggered the Investigation
On May 2, 2026, a nurse at Tower Health Reading Hospital noticed something was wrong.
The baby, who had been healthy at birth, was suddenly pale, limp, and breathing loudly inside the family’s private recovery room on the maternity ward.
The nurse also noticed the father was behaving in an unusual and erratic manner.
She immediately called security. Social services alerted police. West Reading Police officers arrived at the hospital shortly after.
Baby Flown to Another Hospital, Died the Next Day
The newborn was airlifted to Penn State Hershey Medical Center in critical condition.
He did not survive.
The baby was pronounced dead on Sunday, May 3. Medical personnel at the facility told investigators that his injuries were consistent with physical abuse and were not the result of the birthing process.
Autopsy Rules Death a Homicide
On May 5, an autopsy was performed at the Dauphin County Forensic Center in Harrisburg.
The results were unambiguous.
The baby died from multiple traumatic injuries. His death was officially ruled a homicide.
Parents Knew and Said Nothing, Investigators Say
Detectives with the Berks County District Attorney’s Office and West Reading Police determined that the baby’s injuries occurred within a short and well-documented window of time — while he was alone in the room with his parents.
Investigators say that when the baby showed signs of distress, his parents noticed but never called for help or alerted any hospital staff.
On May 19, following interviews with both suspects and numerous healthcare professionals, criminal charges were filed.
Canaan and Tavarez-Cepeda were arrested the same day by a joint team that included the Berks County Sheriff’s Warrant Division, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, West Reading Police, and Berks County Detectives.
Both were transported to the Berks County Sheriff’s Central Processing Center.
DA: ‘The Most Horrific Case of My Career’
Berks County District Attorney John Adams did not hold back when asked about the case.
“When I think about all that I’ve seen in my career, and I’ve seen some bad things, I was shocked,” Adams said.
Both suspects are charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of children. The case remains under active review.
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