Phenix City father charged with murder in infant’s death

A Phenix City father has been charged with capital murder in the Jan. 17 death of his 3-month-old daughter, police said Monday.

Robert Allen Earhart Jr., 30, was charged Thursday after Phenix City police questioned him in the death of daughter Alaina Brodka, who was rushed to the hospital from Steeple Crest Apartments on Riverchase Drive, said Assistant Police Chief Robert Casteel.

He said police learned of the emergency about 1 a.m. Jan. 17, and they questioned Earhart after an autopsy at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery showed Alaina died from blunt-force trauma to the head. Court documents show the child had bruising on the top of her head, back of her head and bleeding on the brain.

Because Steeple Crest is in Lee County, though within the Phenix City limits at 5001 Riverchase Drive, Earhart was booked into the Lee County jail, Casteel said.

In a news release Monday afternoon, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said Phenix City police at 12:53 a.m. Jan. 17 were called to Steeple Chase, where “Autumn Daryoush” told them the baby’s father was giving 3-month-old Alaina CPR. An ambulance took the infant to the hospital, where she died at 1:41 a.m.

Though Phenix City police reported the infant’s last name as Brodka, a Ledger-Enquirer obituary named her Alaina Addison Earhart, born Oct. 19 in Columbus. The obituary said she died Jan. 17 at the Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital, and she was the daughter of Robert Allen Earhart and Autumn Brodka-Earhart. Her funeral was Saturday at Striffler-Hamby in Phenix City, it said.

The tragic death was reflected on the father’s Facebook page, where Robert Earhart wrote of losing his youngest daughter and seeking donations to help cover her funeral expenses. Unlike the obituary, he consistently spelled her middle name “Addision.”

At 3:47 a.m. Jan. 18, he posted: “Words cannot describe the pain that we are all feeling right now. Me and Autumn held our daughter as she was dying. They say it was SIDS. I just never imagined that I would have to bury my sweet little Alaina Addision at so young. I’ve been told that GOD needed her more than we did and that he has something special lined up for her. But I am selfish, I wanted more time, just one more smile, just one more I love you sweet girl, just one more moment with the most beautiful little baby I have ever laid eyes on. She didn’t suffer, but Autumn and I are.”

At 4:30 a.m. that same day, he posted the infant’s photograph with this:

“This was my beautiful Daughter Alaina Addision. She was the most beautiful little girl in the world. That smile is making me cry. I would give my life to hold her and see it one more time. You are my everything Aliana. Im sorry Daddy couldnt bring you back. God has bigger plans for you. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME WE HAD, WHILE WAY TO SHORT, WORTH EVERY SECOND. U are always gonna be my sweet sweet little girl. Mommy and Daddy love u always and forever sweetie. We miss you so incredibly much.”

This story was originally published January 26, 2015 at 2:53 PM.