LONG BEACH -- A hearing was postponed Tuesday for a Long Beach couple accused of felony child abuse in the slaying of their 31-day-old daughter.
Michael Cross, 42, and Melissa Swanson, 34, are each charged with felony cruelty to a child causing death, though the prosecution has noted it is reviewing additional charges.
The couple were arrested Aug. 12, a day after Long Beach police and paramedics responded to a 911 call to their home in the 600 block of Magnolia Avenue to find Michaela Cross already dead.
A preliminary coroner's report listed the baby's cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and noted the fatal injury was likely inflicted a week prior to the child's death, authorities said.
Tuesday's court hearing was postponed to allow time for a new defense attorney for Swanson to review the case.
Both defendants are scheduled to return to the Long Beach Superior Sept. 30.
Cross and Swanson are being held in lieu of $1 million bail each.
Michael Cross, 42, and Melissa Swanson, 34, are each charged with felony cruelty to a child causing death, though the prosecution has noted it is reviewing additional charges.
The couple were arrested Aug. 12, a day after Long Beach police and paramedics responded to a 911 call to their home in the 600 block of Magnolia Avenue to find Michaela Cross already dead.
A preliminary coroner's report listed the baby's cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and noted the fatal injury was likely inflicted a week prior to the child's death, authorities said.
Tuesday's court hearing was postponed to allow time for a new defense attorney for Swanson to review the case.
Both defendants are scheduled to return to the Long Beach Superior Sept. 30.
Cross and Swanson are being held in lieu of $1 million bail each.


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