Maine Father Charged in Death of 13-Month-Old Daughter

Shane McLaughlin, 37, faces manslaughter and three counts of child endangerment for the death of his 13-month-old daughter, Eleanora. Maine State Police arrested him Wednesday, nearly a year after the toddler was found dead on December 28. The Medical Examiner's Office initially ruled the cause of death as hypothermia and classified the manner as accidental. Investigators later uncovered evidence contradicting that accidental finding, leading to criminal charges.

The conditions in McLaughlin’s home were miserable. In an interview with local NBC affiliate WCSH, he described a room so cold he could see his own breath. He claimed to have used an electric space heater between the girls' beds to combat the chill. The door remained open because an animal had wandered into the bedroom. McLaughlin recounted grabbing a package of Pop-Tarts to wake Eleanora, only to find her lifeless.

Eleanora was a twin with an older brother. The trio lived with their father in Maine while their mother, Erika, resided in West Virginia. The couple was estranged. Erika expressed anger and upset that her ex-husband had not faced charges earlier in the year. She remembered Eleanora as a happy child who was almost walking on her own during a family trip to the zoo.

Before the tragedy, McLaughlin maintained an active Facebook presence. His profile bio boasted about his three beautiful kids and stated that family would always come first no matter the cost. In August, he shared a story about another child found dead in a vehicle in Maine. He called that incident sickening and condemned the parents involved.

State Senator Jeff Timberlake has pushed for higher investigative standards in child deaths. He wrote to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, noting that Eleanora lived in a home with no heat and no running water during a Maine winter. The other two children are now in the custody of Erika's grandmother.

McLaughlin is currently held at the Penobscot County Jail on $250,000 bail. He has not entered a plea, and it remains unclear if he has retained an attorney. His court appearance is scheduled for Friday.