San Antonio Man Faces $1M Bond in Death of 9-Month-Old

UPDATE: A San Antonio man, Rick Artis, is now facing a staggering $1 million bond following his arrest in connection with the tragic death of a 9-month-old baby. The charges, announced just moments ago, include a first-degree felony count of injury to a child, highlighting the gravity of this case.

Artis, aged 31, appeared in a Bexar County courtroom earlier this week, where a judge imposed the hefty bond. Prosecutors detailed chilling evidence during the hearing, including cellphone texts and footage from a neighbor’s Ring camera that they claim helps reconstruct the events leading to the infant’s death.

The baby was discovered unresponsive in a crib at an apartment located in the 6100 block of Ingram Road on January 25, 2023, and was pronounced dead at 10:44 a.m.. An autopsy later confirmed the baby suffered a “significant skull fracture likely caused by blunt force trauma,” according to reports from KSAT.

This case is not Artis’s first brush with the law concerning child endangerment. He is also linked to a previous incident involving the death of 17-month-old Lyriq Ogilvie Artis in October 2018. That case saw the medical examiner ruling the death a homicide due to “remote blunt head trauma.” Although Artis was indicted in February 2020, the earlier case has faced multiple delays, including a dismissal and later reopening.

Under Texas law, a conviction for injury to a child that results in serious bodily injury can carry severe penalties, including a prison sentence ranging from five to 99 years or life. The seriousness of the offense is determined by the defendant’s mental state and the extent of the harm inflicted.

As this case unfolds, Artis remains in custody at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center since his booking on January 29. Prosecutors are actively reviewing evidence, and this case is expected to progress through the courts in the coming weeks.

The community is left grappling with the emotional weight of this tragedy as officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.

Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available. The implications of this case resonate deeply, highlighting the urgent need for child protection and justice in the face of unimaginable loss.