Former Rochester man admits murder charge in infant’s death

Red Wing, MN (KROC-AM News) – A former Rochester man has pleaded guilty to a murder charge in connection with the death of his infant son.

28-year-old Hunter Matthew McCutchenwho currently has an address in Red Wing, was charged last fall with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree manslaughter, third-degree assault, domestic violence, child abuse and child neglect, and malicious prosecution. All charges stemmed from the investigation into the baby’s death last May.

READ MORE: Former Rochester man charged with first-degree murder

According to the criminal complaint, McCutchen met the baby’s mother in November 2021. After living together in Rochester, they moved to Red Wing last April. The following month, the Red Wing Fire Department was called to the couple’s residence because an infant was not breathing. The child was unresponsive. The baby was initially taken to the hospital in Red Wing but was then flown by helicopter to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.

Court documents say Mayo Clinic doctors found multiple rib fractures in various stages of healing and a broken leg. The indictment says the locations of the injuries were “strongly suggestive of non-accidental trauma.” The criminal complaint also points out that multiple brain hemorrhages in the image suggested the possibility of “shaken baby syndrome.”

According to court documents, the evidence against McCutchen also included an audio recording of a cell phone conversation made by the child’s mother in which McCutchen can be heard admitting that he was overpowered and that he shook the baby.

As part of a plea agreement reached today in Goodhue District Court, McCutchen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for dropping all other charges.

His sentencing is scheduled for September. In the meantime, the presiding judge has ordered that he remain in custody without bail.