Upper Moreland Dad Charged After Death of 2-Month Old Child

Upper Moreland Police Chief Alex Levy and Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman have announced the arrest of Edward Doyle, 28, of the 2500 block of Horsham Road, for Endangering the Welfare of Children and an on-going investigation into the death of his 2-month-old daughter Makayla Doyle.

According to the Affidavit, a police officer arrived at the residence - Wellington Apartment Complex on the 2500 block of Horsham Road - at 9:38 a.m. The officer found the body of the 2-month-old on a bed in the master bedroom with swelling on her forehead and bruising and cuts on the bridge of her nose. Second Alarmer’s Ambulance took her to Abington Memorial Hospital for treatment. Doctors pronounced her dead at 10:04 a.m. on Feb. 24.

Doyle was interviewed by the Upper Moreland Police Department and said he was out drinking to celebrate a friend’s birthday at American Legion in Willow Grove the night before (Feb. 23), according to the affidavit. However, police found inconsistencies in his story, and it was at this time that Doyle admitted more details of the night. 

According to the report, he and his wife, Nicole Lavelle, 30, were at a friend’s apartment after a night of drinking. The two were arguing over taxes and finances when they decided to return to their own apartment at 3:30 a.m. Doyle told police he removed his daughter from the sleeping swing after she began to cry. Doyle said he then walked with her in his arms through the kitchen and hit the leg of the baby swing causing him to fall forward on top of Makayla’s body.

He checked on Makayla again at 7:15 a.m. and contacted police after she was unresponsive. He told detectives he should not have been caring for her because he “drank too much,” according to the affidavit. The District Attorney decided to move forward with the charges after interviewing him, the wife and the neighbor.

Doyle is being held in Montgomery County prison in lieu of $1 million bail. The preliminary hearing on the Endangering of Welfare of a Child is currently scheduled for March 5 at 10 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Paul Leo.