WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – As Watertown police continue to investigate the death of a toddler, more details are emerging about the man who lived in the same apartment with the child.
History of violence
Deshaun Cavoly, 29, has a violent record that sent him to state prison. According to the Utica Observer-Dispatch, Cavoly was arrested in 2017, accused of causing serious injuries to a 3-month-old baby.
The newspaper reported there was evidence showing the injuries were severe and significant and were caused by Cavoly. He was charged with third-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault.
He served time after being convicted of attempted assault stemming from an Oneida County incident, but it’s unclear if it was related to the infant’s case or a separate incident. 7 News reached out to the Oneida County District Attorney’s office for more records, but didn’t receive them.
Neighbors said Cavoly moved to Watertown after he was released from prison in September.
Watertown charges
On Wednesday, a 2-year-old girl died at Samaritan Medical Center. Cavoly and the child lived in the same apartment at Eastbrook Apartments.
Cavoly is not charged with anything in connection with the child’s death, but he was arrested on the same day she died for something else.
Cavoly is being held without bail for allegedly throwing a knife at a woman.
Police said Cavoly had two knives on him and threw one at a woman outside his apartment. Police said he yelled, “Let’s fight.”
Neighbor reaction
John, a neighbor at Eastbrook Apartments, said he gave Cavoly the benefit of the doubt when he moved in.
“Somebody that you first meet, you try to give them the, ‘Okay, let’s try this.’ Unfortunately, it ended up bad,” John said.
John said Cavoly’s behavior was problematic.
“If he doesn’t get his way, he wasn’t a happy man,” John said.
State investigation
County officials could not comment on whether Child Protective Services was checking in on the 2-year-old.
The state will investigate the death as it does with any child’s death. According to its website, the state’s Child Protective Services office will not only look at the death but also whether the system failed the child.
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