Paris, Tenn.–A Paris man charged in the death of a 15-month-old baby has been sentenced to serve 23 years and two months in the Department of Corrections after he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder in Henry County Circuit Court.
Shaquille Maurice Hayes, age 23, of 1208 Lincoln St., was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Naryiah Sparks in 2017.
The little girl died at Vanderbilt Medical Center after she had been transported there from Henry County Medical Center several days earlier. She was suffering from head trauma when admitted.
At the time of the arrest, Paris Police Chief Ricky Watson (who was then a lieutenant) said the baby died from injuries she sustained on Hwy. 641S.
Watson said during the investigation, Hayes was developed as a possible suspect. After other suspects were ruled out, Hayes was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Watson said the Paris Police were assisted in the investigation by the TBI and the Henry County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division.
Hayes has credit for 1,569 days already served in jail.