MURRAY, Utah — A 6-month-old girl named Celia Aurora Colby was found unresponsive in an unfinished basement in January 2025. She died before she could reach the hospital.
Now, more than a year later, her father is facing the most serious charges a parent can face.
Neal English Colby, 42, has been charged with first-degree felony child abuse homicide and child endangerment resulting in death. He has been held without bail since his arrest.
What investigators say happened that morning
Celia’s mother had been sick with the flu along with the baby and a young son. Around 2:30 a.m. on January 17, 2025, she brought Celia downstairs to Colby — the couple had separated but were still living in the same home, with Colby staying in the basement.
When the mother woke up hours later, she heard Colby screaming for her.
She found her daughter in a critical condition. According to court documents, she immediately began performing CPR and called 911 herself — because Colby would not make the call.
Officers arrived to find the basement in a deeply troubling state. Authorities described the room as very dirty, filled with garbage, bottles of urine near the bed, animal waste, drug paraphernalia, and jars of THC wax stored in the same cupboard as baby food and children’s items.
His account did not match the evidence
Colby told investigators he had checked on Celia regularly and claimed she had pulled a tightly wrapped blanket over her own face.
But his cellphone told a different story.
Location data from the device — which he had claimed was missing and was later found in the couch — showed that he left the residence at approximately 3:21 a.m. and was gone for 43 minutes.
Police said the area where his phone was tracked is a known drug location.
Body cam footage raised further concerns
Officers noted something that stood out in the moments after they arrived.
According to the arrest affidavit, body camera footage showed Colby vaping when officers were not directly looking at him. The moment they made eye contact, he reportedly began wailing and crying, saying he did not know what had happened.
Investigators described his behavior as showing no genuine remorse.
What the autopsy found
A medical examination found bruising around Celia’s nostrils, right cheek, and chin.
A pediatrician reviewing the findings noted that the injury pattern is consistent with a caregiver pinching a child’s nose shut. While the bruising alone was not determined to be the cause of death, the doctor wrote that manual airway obstruction by an adult could not be ruled out.
The manner of death was ultimately left undetermined.
A family remembers a little girl full of life
Celia’s obituary described her as having a bright, energized spirit. She loved being outdoors, sitting on her parents’ laps, riding in her stroller, and listening to the wind move through the trees.
She was six months old.
Colby remains in custody without bail. Prosecutors have requested he stay jailed pending trial. The charges against him have not been proven in court, and he is presumed innocent unless found guilty.
What do you think needs to change to better protect infants and young children in vulnerable home situations? Share your thoughts in the comments.