He spent his daughter's funeral in a jail cell, charged with her rape and murder. Two months later, prosecutors admitted the case against him should never have been brought.
James Lee Saltmarshall was fully exonerated in 2017 after being wrongly charged with murdering and sexually assaulting his 8-month-old daughter, Janiyah, in Inkster, Michigan. A later medical review found the injuries that led to his arrest had been misread, and the case was dismissed in its entirety.
A Sudden Emergency
On April 20, 2017, Saltmarshall, then 22, fell asleep holding Janiyah while watching a movie at a motel where the two were staying. When he woke, she wasn't breathing. He called 911 immediately, and she was rushed to the hospital.
Doctors Reported Suspected Abuse
An emergency room physician examining Janiyah found what she believed were signs of trauma inconsistent with Saltmarshall's account, including bleeding she attributed to a rectal injury. As more doctors reviewed the case over the following days, the suspected injuries appeared to grow more severe, with one physician texting police that the case involved skull fractures, brain swelling, and injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome, describing it in a message as a murder. Based on these medical assessments, police arrested Saltmarshall on suspicion of sexual assault, and he was later charged with felony murder, first-degree child abuse, and first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Janiyah was declared brain dead the following day; Saltmarshall learned of both the charges against him and his daughter's death at the same hearing. He spent his daughter's funeral in jail and wasn't told where she'd been buried.
A Different Conclusion
Nearly two months later, following further review by the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, the initial medical assessments were found to be mistaken. The rectal injury was determined to be a minor fissure caused by constipation, not sexual trauma; there was no skull fracture, no brain injury, and no evidence of shaken baby syndrome. The medical examiner ultimately ruled Janiyah's death an accident, caused by asphyxiation after Saltmarshall rolled onto her while they slept in the same bed. On June 29, 2017, Wayne County prosecutors formally dismissed every charge against Saltmarshall, stating it was "in the best interest of justice."
A Lasting Toll
Saltmarshall's attorney, Lillian Diallo, said at the time that the charges should never have been filed, and that the public accusations of infant rape and murder would likely follow him regardless of the dismissal. Saltmarshall later filed a civil lawsuit against the police officers and doctors involved in the case, arguing their investigation and erroneous medical conclusions led to his wrongful arrest and prosecution. In 2019, a federal court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants, effectively ending that lawsuit without a trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was James Saltmarshall ever convicted of any crime related to his daughter's death?
No. All charges against him were dismissed after a medical review found the initial evidence of abuse had been mistaken.
What did the medical examiner ultimately determine caused Janiyah's death?
Accidental asphyxiation, after her father rolled onto her while they were sleeping in the same bed — not abuse or assault.
Did Saltmarshall win his lawsuit against the police and doctors involved?
No. A federal court ruled in favor of the defendants in 2019, ending the case before it went to trial.