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Infant murder suspect: 'It's a dirty game'

TAMPA, FL -- Authorities have arrested a man they believe threw an infant from a car along I-275 Tuesday morning. The 3-month-old boy died.

21-year-old Richard McTear Jr. was apprehended around 9 a.m. at 3803 Arlington Drive in Tampa.

An off-duty news photographer found the child, identified as Emanuel Murray, in the southbound emergency lane near Fowler Avenue shortly after 4 a.m.

About 45 minutes earlier, deputies were called to a home at 12414 North 15th Street for a report of domestic violence at the Marbella Apartments.

The caller, Jasmine Bedwell, said that she and McTear were fighting and that she and her 3-month-old son had been battered. Bedwell told the operator the man picked up the baby and threw him on the concrete.

She said he then picked up the child and took off in a blue 4-door Chevrolet Impala.

The baby was pronounced dead alongside the Interstate around 4:30 a.m. Investigators say he was the child taken from the Marbella Apartments.

Tampa Police later located McTear's car at 1601 River Cove in Tampa.

The car was found in the vicinity of Edison Elementary School, which was placed under modified lockdown for a time.

The southbound on-ramps to I-275 were closed at Bearss, Fletcher and Fowler Avenues for several hours as the investigation continued.


After his arrest, McTear was taken to Tampa Police District 3 Headquarters and then taken to the Falkenburg Road Jail where he is being held.

When our Dustin Chase asked how he could throw a baby out the window, McTear responded "It's a dirty game."

Randy