HONESDALE, PA — Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell announced on October 21 that Michael Alexander Crowl, 26, of Lake Ariel PA has been sentenced to be incarcerated in a State Correctional Institution for a period of no less than two hundred forty (240) months nor more than four hundred eighty (480) months on one count of Murder in the 3rd degree for causing the death of a 3-month-old baby on November 10, 2023.

On the morning of November 10, 2023, a 3-month-old baby, Jasper Cole Sheppard Degroot, arrived at the Emergency Room at Wayne Memorial Hospital (WMH). During treatment and evaluation, medical experts determined the baby sustained multiple injuries consistent with Abusive Head Trauma. Jasper passed away on November 13, 2023.

A report detailed the constellation of Jasper’s physical and x-ray findings regarding abusive head trauma precipitated either by impact, shaking or shaking and impact, including subdurals, retinal bleeds, neck ligamental injuries along the spine, posterior scalp swelling, spinal bleeds, increased intracranial pressure and swelling, and hematomas.

On November 14, 2023, Crowl admitted to shaking the victim which caused him to start having seizures.