Alyviah’s mother breaks silence after ex-boyfriend shook her baby daughter to death
My Angry Ex Boyfriend Shook My Seven-Month-Old Baby Girl To Death After I Left Him In Charge For Just 41 Minutes — Here’s My Message To Other Parents
- Alyvia Hayne murdered in December 2015
- Mother Brooke Skinner left baby with ex-boyfriend
- Jake Luscombe, 27, pleaded guilty to manslaughter
A grief-stricken mother whose daughter was shaken to death by her ex-boyfriend has broken her silence after nearly a decade when he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Brooke Skinner left her seven-month-old Alyviah Hayne with her ex-partner Jake Luscombe for just 41 minutes in December 2015.
She left her happy and bubbly baby in a red pushchair while she visited her father’s house, just down the road from her property in Grafton, North East NSW.
Brooke Skinner (pictured) left her seven-month-old baby Alyviah Hayne with ex-partner Jake Luscombe for just 41 minutes in December 2015
Ms Skinner left baby Alyviah (pictured) in a red walker while visiting her father’s home just down the road from her property in Grafton, North East NSW
When she returned 10 minutes later, her baby was foaming from the nose.
Despite the frantic efforts of a neighbor and paramedics to resuscitate the baby, the seven-month-old baby died at home.
In 2015, a cause of death was never confirmed. However, the findings of an inquest five years later revealed that Luscombe was charged in 2022.
Nearly a decade later, Luscombe admitted to killing baby Alyviah and pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Grafton local court on Tuesday.
Ms. Skinner was in court when her ex-partner entered the plea.
“It’s hard, but at least it’s finally coming to an end,” she said 7News.
“I’m glad she’s finally getting justice, but no one wants to hear it, especially from the killer’s mouth.”
The inquest into Alyviah’s death revealed that she suffered unexplained trauma to her body, had bruises on her forehead and buttocks, and a swollen brain.
One expert said one of the two bleeds discovered in the seven-month-old would have required “a significant amount of force.”
They suggested that “vigorous shaking” of her head could have caused a whiplash.
The inquest heard Luscombe give several accounts of what had happened, telling police that he gave the baby a bottle and then left for 20 minutes.
“I gave her a bottle, she drank a little… and I came back 20 minutes later,” he said.
No liquids or solids were found in the baby’s stomach.
Jake Luscombe, 27, admitted to killing baby Alyviah and pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Grafton local court on Tuesday
Baby Alyviah (pictured) was blue and cold to the touch, with spots on both sides of her body, which often prevents the heart from struggling to pump blood effectively
The seven-month-old was blue and cold to the touch, with spots on both sides of her body, which often prevent the heart from struggling to pump blood effectively.
In his first interview with police, Luscombe said he did the dishes while Alyviah slept.
In his second, the 27-year-old claimed he was cleaning the aquarium downstairs.
After nearly eight years of hiding her identity, Ms. Skinner has come forward to share a heartbreaking message with all parents.
“Tell your children you love them,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“Because you may never be able to again.”
She says she regrets her decision to leave her baby in Luscombe’s care every day, but she was happy to receive justice.
Alyviah would have celebrated her eighth birthday this year.
Luscombe will be sentenced by Coffs Harbor District Court later this month.