Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell today announced that Michael Alexander Crowl, age 26, of Lake Ariel PA entered a guilty plea to Murder in the 3rd degree for causing the death of a 3 month old baby on November 10, 2023. Crowl continues to be held at the Wayne County Correctional Facility pending sentencing on October 10, 2024.
On 11/10/23 at approximately 1042 hours, a Wayne Memorial Hospital (WMH), Emergency Room nurse contacted PSP Honesdale that the VICTIM, a 3-month-old baby, Jasper Cole SHEPPARD-DEGROOT, came into Wayne Memorial Hospital, via ambulance from 340 Tannery Rd., Lake Ariel, PA, South Canaan Twp., Wayne County.
CROWL was asked what he did to the baby? He said he didn't do anything, that he just put the JASPER down to bed. He was asked again what he did to the baby? CROWL related that he did not know. Troopers told CROWL that they believed that he does know what happened.
CROWL began to cry and said he fell with the baby. CROWL was asked to demonstrate how he fell and during his demonstration, the troopers believed he was trying to minimize how it happened. CROWL related that JASPER must have bumped his head in the process.
The troopers explained to CROWL that his story was not believable and CROWL was asked to tell what really happened.
CROWL eventually admitted to shaking JASPER because CROWL was frustrated, tired, and JASPER would not sleep. CROWL demonstrated how he shook JASPER by using a notebook and a trooper’s forearm). CROWL showed how he was holding JASPER under his arms and he shook JASPER back and forth.
.Crowl continues to be held at the Wayne County Correctional Facility pending sentencing on October 10, 2024.