Heraldnet.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2010 12:15 am
ADVERTISEMENT

LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
Blog
The Buzz
Brackets whacked
Your town news
Julie Muhlstein
Columnist Julie Muhlstein's take on life in Snohomish County.
•Latest: Young woman’s cancer fight is a community effort
Kristi O'Harran
Columnist Kristi O'Harran writes about people in Snohomish County.
•Latest: Grant provides a lift to veterans
Latest gallery

ShopGirls
March 19. 2010 (33 photos)
[More Herald photos]
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Saturday


Eight teens escape Edmonds house fire
Supporters, foes of various tax increases fight...
State Senate trims sales tax increase in proposal
Friday
Russians might compete with Boeing for tanker c...
Police hunt for shooting suspect
Navy squadron returns to Washington this weekend
Thursday


Everett plans big upgrades for city parks
State changes mind on how to handle Darrington ...
Arlington missions worker hurt in Haiti quake r...
Wednesday


Monroe girl guilty of murder in Sultan gang sla...
Man is sentenced to 8 years in crash that killed 4
House revives bill to create jobs and renovate ...
Tuesday


Local beef — lots of it
16-year-old girl convicted in Sultan gang murder
Lawmakers start haggling budget, again
Monday


A gift for a gifted kid
An early start to allergy season
Students to have their first look at ‘WAS...
Sunday


Stillaguamish Tribe carves a link to its long-l...
Paine Field results delayed by months
The Hub, a Snohomish institution, closes
 

ADVERTISEMENT

Local News   Print This Article  Email This Page  Subscribe Now! facebook digg reddit del.icio.us fark stumble

 
ADVERTISEMENT

 
CONTACT THE HERALD
Robert Frank, City Editor
frank@heraldnet.com
 
Published: Saturday, December 5, 2009

Tulalip man, 20, charged with baby boy's murder

MARYSVILLE — Doctors believe 15-month-old Damoniko Ashby was beaten and suffered for hours before he died.

Prosecutors allege that the toddler was brutalized by his mother's boyfriend, James Fryberg.

Fryberg, 20, was charged Friday with second-degree murder in the boy's death.

Fryberg surrendered to Marysville police last month. He posted bail and remains free.

The Tulalip man allegedly told investigators that the boy tumbled down a flight of stairs May 13 while Fryberg was taking a bath.

He said he heard a thud and found the boy at the bottom of the stairs, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Hal Hupp wrote in court documents.

Fryberg told investigators that he picked the boy up, laid him on the couch and gave him a bottle.

He was watching Damoniko while the child's mother was at work. The couple had been dating for about four months and were living together in a Marysville apartment.

The boy's mother told investigators it was the first time Fryberg had been in charge of the boy for more than half an hour, Hupp wrote.

Three weeks earlier, he'd taken her son to visit Fryberg's family. Damoniko returned with injuries that Fryberg blamed on the family's dog.

The boy's mother told investigators that Fryberg picked her up from work about 11 p.m. May 13 and told her that Damoniko fell down some stairs. She said that the boy usually resisted going to bed but that night he did not and appeared tired, Hupp wrote.

Fryberg allegedly told investigators that he heard the boy breathing about 8 a.m. the next day but when he got up nearly five hours later Damoniko wasn't breathing, court papers said.

Paramedics found the boy dead on the couch. An autopsy revealed that he'd had numerous injuries.

The toddler suffered multiple blows to the head that weren't consistent with a fall, according to Dr. Norman Thiersch, the Snohomish County medical examiner. It also appeared that he'd been kicked in the stomach. The blow caused severe hemorrhaging, court papers said.

A Seattle Children's Hospital doctor also concluded that Damoniko's injuries weren't caused by a fall.

Investigators interviewed the mother of one of Fryberg's children. She told investigators that Fryberg assaulted her on numerous occasions.

She also told investigators that Fryberg is violent when he is using oxycodone, a powerful prescription painkiller.

She said when he's high he can't stand to hear a baby cry, Hupp wrote.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.

COMMENTS

Log in or register to post a new comment.


To read other terms and conditions, click here

get's violent when using oxycon?
the mother knew he got violent when using ox?

ok... not.

happens often, mother has baby, gets new boyfriend, new boyfriend does not like mothers baby, it's not his, the baby dies from injuries not consistent with normal "injuries"

btw, is this "boyfriend" being drug tested while he is on bail....

frigging unbelievable...

tagger arrest | Dec 6, 2009 6:39 am | 0 replies | Request removal

Post reply

(No heading)
The reason he is out on bail might have something to do withhis name. Fryberg , isn,t that one of the several families that controls all the money on that reservation?
Jon Cannelo | Dec 5, 2009 8:53 am | 2 replies | Request removal

Post reply

Re: (No heading)
Jon~
That is exactly my point. Who put up the bail? Are there people who condone this kind of behavior? Reservation or not, we should all live under the same laws.

Jennifer None | Dec 05, 2009 9:36 am | Request removal
Re: law of the land?
Yes we should live under the same laws, but we don't, that is why this young man is on the loose....What's in a name?

I am amazed with all the tragedy that has been in the news lately about sick people killing innocent folks, how in the hell does a person like this post bail? I have a pretty good idea. Another reason to be proactive in the re-construction of the judicial system, tribal laws and the lack thereof...what is it going to take to get a handle on this?
Irregardless of of the nasty addictions, one must be accountable for ones actions. How much more obvious can it be that this young man has been in need of help for quite some time, I guess at the expense of a child's life. What a heart breaker for all parties.

God help us.

Patrick Green | Dec 05, 2009 7:33 pm | Request removal
WHAT???!!!
Unbelievable! But typical. What kind of INSANE judge would let him out on bail? Oh, the murderer was high...well, that makes it okay, he has a good excuse. He's certainly not to blame for his actions - he's just a sad victim himself. Unable to make any good choices. I'm wondering what kind of chronic condition he has at 20 that allows him access to pain pills? Maybe he has junkieitis - or somebodysuppliesmepills syndrome. I hope not only his "addiction" is looked into, but his supplier as well. And all the others who enable him to continue to batter and murder people who are weaker. I pray justice will be served swiftly and fairly in this case for once.
melissa snell | Dec 5, 2009 11:46 am | 0 replies | Request removal

Post reply

(No heading)
He is a known drug user who gets violent when using. He murdered a helpless baby because he can't stand to hear babies cry when he is high. AND, he is out on bail?? WHY??
I pray that there are no "special" privileges for him because he is on the reservation. A murderer is a murderer - no matter where he lives!

Jennifer None | Dec 5, 2009 7:45 am | 0 replies | Request removal

Post reply


Other Advertisers
TODAY'S TOP JOBS
 View All Top Jobs 
Top Cars
Top Homes

ADVERTISEMENT