A young couple from Lakewood, Washington, is facing second-degree murder charges following the death of their seven-week-old infant.
Mark Anthony Labaco Clamor, 21, and Alyssa Jade Vanderbeck, 19, were formally charged on March 12, 2026, in Pierce County Superior Court after their infant son, identified as N.C., passed away on March 9, 2026.
Prosecutors allege the baby died from severe head trauma, and an investigation revealed that the parents delayed seeking medical help while the child was in distress.
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| Mark Anthony Clamor |
On March 4th 2026, Clamor called 911 to report that the infant was not breathing so emergency responders arrived
and the victim was rushed to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. When doctors examined the baby at the hospital, they discovered injuries that immediately raised concerns.
According to police reports, medical staff discovered that the infant had bleeding on the brain, a severe brain injury caused by lack of oxygen, and extensive bleeding in the retinas of his eyes, as reported by KOMO News.
Further scans also revealed the presence of rib fractures that appeared to be in the process of healing. A physician specializing in child abuse later assessed the injuries and told investigators they were consistent with "abusive head trauma," which is often caused by violent shaking.
During his interview with Lakewood Police detectives, Clamor told investigators that on the day of the incident, he was home alone caring for the baby while Vanderbeck slept.
While he was feeding the baby, Clamor said the infant got fussy, so he responded by moving the child in a way that caused the baby's head to snap backward pretty hard, after which the baby seemed to fall asleep in a bouncer.
He later admitted to detectives that he knew at that moment he had handled the infant too roughly. He also explained that he was under severe stress at the time due to financial problems, unemployment, and the exhaustion of caring for a newborn.
When Vanderbeck woke up, the couple decided to take a shower together, bringing the baby into the bathroom with them. However, after they finished, they noticed the infant was making unusual grunting noises and seemed "abnormal," as per court documents.
Instead of calling for emergency help immediately, the parents spent time trying to diagnose the problem themselves. They reportedly believed the baby might have gas or constipation and attempted to burp him and rub his stomach.
During this time, they also recorded videos of the baby on their phones and sent messages to friends and family asking for advice. The videos, later obtained by detectives, showed the infant struggling to breathe, with labored breathing and abnormal eye movements, as reported by PEOPLE.
Investigators believe approximately one hour passed from the moment the parents first noticed the baby was in severe distress until they finally made the 911 call.
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| Alyssa Jade Vanderbeck |
After the victim was taken to the hospital, doctors worked to save the infant, but his condition did not improve, so he remained in critical care for several days before dying on March 9, 2026.
An autopsy performed on March 10 and 11 by the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed the severity of the injuries. The medical examiner reported intracranial and spinal hemorrhaging and noted that the preliminary cause of death was homicide resulting from abusive head trauma.
While the baby was still alive in the hospital, investigators observed worrisome behavior from the parents that they found unusual, which included posting on social media at that sensitive time.
According to police report, on Saturday, March 8, 2026, while their son was still in critical condition and on life support, Vanderbeck posted a video on TikTok which showed her dancing in the bathroom of the hospital room while upbeat music played.
The couple made their first court appearance on March 12 2026, and a judge set their bail at $1 million each. They remain in jail as they await further legal proceedings. For updates on this case and other high-profile cases sign up for our free newsletter here.
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