A Grimes man is charged with first-degree murder in the 2025 killing of his 2-year-old child after allegedly striking her more than 40 times.
Dylan James Brown, 23, was charged with child endangerment, domestic abuse assault and willful injury on Aug. 7, 2025, after authorities responded to an early-morning call in Grimes. Court documents alleged Brown admitted to striking the child “with as much force as he could,” and strangling the child’s mother until she passed out.
Court documents alleged Brown struck his daughter more than 40 times. She was taken to the University of Iowa Hospital, where she died over a week later from her injuries.
Prosecutors filed to dismiss the charges against Brown in April 2026, telling the court they needed more time to investigate additional alleged instances of abuse and to review the autopsy report for Brown’s daughter.
On June 15, 2026, a new court filing released autopsy report results that determined the manner of death was homicide. Violent force trauma to the child’s head was determined to be the cause of death. Brown is charged with first-degree murder.
Brown also was charged with domestic assault impeding airflow causing serious injury to the child’s mother. He also received a no-contact order against him from the child’s mother.
Brown remains in the custody of the Polk County Jail. No court dates for Brown have been scheduled.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Grimes man charged with murder in 2-year-old daughter’s death
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
