Dad found guilty in daughter's death

NORFOLK, Va. - A Norfolk father accused of killing his infant daughter has been found guilty of Second Degree Murder and two counts of felony Child Neglect.

Corey Bryant appeared in Norfolk Circuit Court Monday charged with the death of his 10-month-old daughter, Miracle. Police say the infant died of starvation in April 2008.

Bryant, an operations Third Class Petty Officer in the Navy, testified that when he didn't have duty he "did everything a father would do. Fed them and read to them." He told a judge he learned his children had been starved, which led to the death of one of them, after he returned from a three week deployment. Bryant says before he left, "they were healthy."

The sailor broke down in tears on the witness stand. His wife Heaven Smith, also a sailor, cared for the babies in their apartment while he was away. She pleaded guilty to Murder and Child Neglect charges for the death of baby Miracle in March. Smith testified against Bryant on Friday, claiming she did what her he told her to do.

Medical experts testified the girls were starved. Miracle's twin sister, Heaven, also suffered from malnourishment but survived.

Bryant is scheduled to be sentenced in November.