A 4-Month-Old Died While In His Care: He Had Prior Child Abuse Convictions

He Had Prior Child Abuse Convictions. Now A 4-Month-Old Died While In His Care.

On September 19, 2026, just before 5 p.m., officers responded to a home on 24th Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee, for an unresponsive 4-month-old girl. Upon arrival, the infant was rushed to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in extremely critical condition and placed on life support.

Doctors determined the baby had suffered serious internal head injuries, including retinal hemorrhaging. Medical personnel said the injuries were caused by abuse and severe shaking.

On September 23, 2026, the infant was declared brain-dead after four days on life support and later died from her injuries.

The victim was identified as 4-month-old Nevaeh Petty.

At the time Nevaeh became unresponsive, she was alone with her mother’s boyfriend, 32-year-old Bobby Randall Conner Jr., while her mother was at work.

Conner told officers he had been lying in bed with Nevaeh, got up to use the restroom and found her unresponsive when he returned.

Youth Services detectives arrested Conner on September 23 at a motel on Spence Lane and initially charged him with aggravated child abuse. His bond was set at $500,000.

Following Nevaeh’s death, Conner was charged with murder.

Police said Conner had already been convicted of child abuse in August 2020 and received a four-year sentence. He was also convicted of child neglect in connection with a March 2025 arrest and received a one-year sentence.

Nevaeh’s father, Edward Wagner, said he knew about Conner’s history and repeatedly warned Nevaeh’s mother that he did not believe their daughter was safe around him.

Wagner said he also contacted the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services multiple times about Conner. A welfare check was conducted while Nevaeh was still unharmed.

Nevaeh’s mother acknowledged knowing about Conner’s previous child abuse and neglect convictions. She said she believed DCS had cleared him to be around the baby and left Nevaeh in his care while she went to work.

Nevaeh’s family later chose to donate her organs.