Family devastated after baby beaten to death in Mt. Lebanon, father arrested

MT. LEBANON — Kayla Walter shared new pictures of her and her infant daughter Victoria with Channel 11 on Tuesday, two days after Victoria’s father allegedly beat her to death.

Attorney Joseph Horowitz is a family friend who's speaking on Kayla and her mother's behalf.

"They are as devastated as could possibly be,” Horowitz said.

Horowitz told us Joseph Gazzam and Kayla had been together for three years and Victoria, their first child together, was born prematurely.

Police say Gazzam called 911 on Sunday after the baby stopped breathing. Investigators say Gazzam eventually admitted to punching Victoria several times after she woke up crying from her nap.

The family said Gazzam just "snapped."

TRENDING NOW:

• Gunman picking random targets kills 4 in Northern California
• Police: Baby alone for hours after couple killed in home
• Child dies in elementary gym class 'freak accident'
• RAW VIDEO: Fetterman announces run for lieutenant governor

"He seemed like a good dad who cared about his baby,” Horowitz said. “Kayla told me he had already put money down for Christmas presents and seemed to go to work and be doing the things he needed to do to be a dad."

Channel 11 uncovered Tuesday that Gazzam served in the United States military and had recently moved into a Mt. Lebanon home owned by Kayla's mother.

Gazzam does have a criminal record that includes DUI and public drunkenness charges from 2015.  Police sources confirm that they had another run-in with Gazzam this summer, again over public drunkenness.

"Nothing that would indicate that anything like this would ever happen,” Horowitz said.

The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for the baby's funeral expenses. You can donate HERE.

Cox Media Group