Mom blamed ‘rough play’ on 1-year-old’s deadly injuries, New Mexico cops say

A mom and dad were arrested after being accused of fatally abusing their 1-year-old child, New Mexico police said.

In November, 1-year-old Calian Skywater was taken to the Plains Regional Medical Center, where he was eventually pronounced dead, according to a Sept. 10 Facebook post by the Clovis Police Department.

Detectives saw “extensive bruises” on Skywater, and when asking his mom, 22-year-old Donna Phillips, about the injuries, she said they were a result of “rough play” with the toddler’s siblings and falling off a high chair, police said.

After investigating, police learned Skywater and his siblings were removed from Phillips’ care in November 2023 and then returned to her in October 2024, police said.

Skywater’s autopsy revealed bruises on 70% to 80% of his body, and the Medical Examiner’s Office determined the child had experienced “fatal physical abuse” along with head trauma, police said.

Phillips and the toddler’s 33-year-old dad, later identified as Onesimus Skywater, were arrested, officers said.

They were each charged with intentional abuse of a child resulting in the child’s death, police said.

Clovis is about a 220-mile drive southeast from Albuquerque.

This story was originally published September 11, 2025 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Mom blamed ‘rough play’ on 1-year-old’s deadly injuries, New Mexico cops say."