1:37pm | The death of Long Beach infant Michaela Cross on August 11, 2011 has been ruled a homicide after an autopsy performed by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office determined the infant’s death was not an accident.
Based on the evidence of ongoing physical abuse, the Coroner’s ruling led to the arrest of the infant’s parents, Michael Cross, 42, and Melissa Swanson, 34, both of Long Beach. They were arrested and booked at the Long Beach Police Department Jail. The motive for this crime remains unknown, and an investigation is ongoing.
On Tuesday, August 16, 2011, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office filed one count of willful cruelty to a child that caused death (on each of the defendants, and an additional charge for possession of narcotics on suspect Cross.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives Greg Krabbe or Mark Bigel at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips via text or web may be submitted by visiting the Long Beach Police website, www.longbeach.gov/police.