LOGAN — A Nibley couple accused of a “severe pattern of neglect” that led to the death of their 18-month-old daughter pleaded guilty to reduced charges last week.
According to court records, Mitchell Chesnut Murray, 31, and Carrie Marie Murray, 32, entered guilty pleas July 2 in Logan’s 1st District Court to child abuse homicide and aggravated child abuse, both second-degree felonies. The agreement resolved initial charges filed in December, which included first-degree felony aggravated murder.
The charges stem from the March 19, 2025, death of their daughter, Ruby Marie Murray, who succumbed to complications from severe malnutrition and dehydration. According to investigators, the toddler weighed approximately 17 pounds at the time of her death.
Court documents detail a harrowing environment inside the family’s Nibley home, where prosecutors alleged the parents demonstrated a “depraved indifference to human life.”
Using the family’s internal baby monitors and home surveillance cameras, detectives with the Cache County Sheriff’s Office reconstructed the final days of the toddler’s life. Investigators discovered that during her last four days, Ruby was allowed out of her crib for a total of just over six hours.
Furthermore, data logs revealed that the total time any human being spent inside the room with the child during those four days was 49 minutes and 15 seconds. On March 18, the day before Ruby died, the combined interaction she had with her mother, father, and brother totaled just 49 seconds. Her diaper was never changed that day, and video captured the child crying, whimpering, and gasping through her final night.
When Ruby was in her crib, which was fitted with a mesh cover to prevent her from climbing out, she was surrounded by old pieces of food. Prosecutors noted her room was kept noticeably warmer than the rest of the house due to a running space heater, and loud music was blasted continuously to drown out her cries.
When questioned, Carrie Murray told detectives she had not checked the baby monitor application in months and had muted its notifications. She stated that Ruby was fed almost exclusively waffles in her crib because the family members were “not table people.” Following the death, she told police she assumed it was sudden infant death syndrome, adding, “I feel no guilt over this.”
Mitchell Murray, who worked from home, admitted to police that he spent much of his time on his computer playing video games. He described a routine he termed “crib days,” during which the toddler would be left in her crib for the entire day while he worked.
According to court records, the Murrays are scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 11. Both remain in the Cache County Jail being held without bail. Each count carries a penalty of one to 15 years in prison.