The father of three-week-old Inverness baby Mikayla Haining has been charged in connection with his daughter’s death.
Tom Haining, 19, has been reported to the procurator fiscal and is expected to appear at Inverness Sheriff Court today.
The teenager was charged just two days after paying tribute on social media to his “perfect wee princess” – saying his “heart is completely broken”.
Baby Mikayla died on Thursday, June 8, after being taken to the city’s Raigmore Hospital with serious injuries.
A flat on Mackay Road in the Hilton area of Inverness was sealed off by police, with forensic officers working at the scene.
Last night, police said the investigation into the baby’s death remained ongoing.
Detective Inspector Brian Geddes said: “Following the death of three-week-old Mikayla Haining, I can confirm a 19-year-old man has been charged and reported to the procurator fiscal.
“This has been a complex investigation and it remains ongoing.
“I would like to thank the community for their patience while these inquiries have been, and continue to be, carried out.”
It is understood that Mikayla lived in the flat at Mackay road with her dad, Mr Haining, and mother Shannon Davies.
Police confirmed on Monday that they were now treating Mikayla’s death as “suspicious”, having previously described it as “unexplained”.
In a lengthy post on social media shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Mr Haining, who is from Ardgour in Morvern, said: “She was our perfect wee princess and my heart is completely broken from what’s happened.”
In the days after Mikayla’s death, forensic officers could be seen going in and out of the property, and at one point a man in a shirt and tie carrying a bag and wearing blue gloves entered the property.
A large blue tarpaulin was suspended from a balcony above the ground floor maisonette flat covering the windows while officers worked at the scene, while uniformed police stood guard at the front door.
Detectives carried out door-to-door inquiries in the block of flats and with other neighbours on the street
Speaking a few days after the tragedy, a neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said how she had spoken to Mikayla’s parents several times in passing.
She said: “My heart breaks for that wee baby.”