A 40-year-old man from Lethbridge has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of nine-month-old Austin Wright.

On April 28, paramedics were called to a home in the 600 block of 17 Street N. in Lethbridge for reports of a baby in medical distress.

When EMS assessed the child, they found he was not breathing and was in cardiac arrest.

The infant was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy revealed that Austin died of blunt force trauma that police don’t believe were consistent with a fall.

A subsequent investigation showed that the infant had been left in the care of the mother’s boyfriend while she was at work.

Officers with the Violent Crimes Unit determined that the baby began crying and was assaulted, and sustained extensive injuries.

During the initial report to authorities, the man merely said that the baby was not breathing.

On July 27, the boyfriend, Tyler Brian Hogan, was arrested by Lethbridge police.

Staff Sergeant Scott Woods with the LPS says that Hogan was living at the home at the time of the incident.

Woods says the pair was alone for about 10 to 20 minutes before the 911 call was made.

Hogan has been charged with one count of second-degree murder in Austin’s death.

Woods says the charge has closed just one part of the tragic case. "First and foremost, we can put another part of closure for the family of Austin and we're relieved as a police service. It's very taxing on investigators, stressful at times. There was a bigger picture too, it's closure for a lot of people. I don't think, as a parent, you ever get full closure when you lose a child, but there is closure for us, the police, first responders, hospital workers."

Woods says that Hogan has been very cooperative with the investigation but police are not able to provide any more details about the case, which is before the courts.

"We have to make sure that Mr. Hogan is held accountable for his actions."

Hogan was remanded in custody and made his first court appearance on Thursday.

His next appearance is on August 3.