Dad killed son so he could play video games, says Sheriff's Office

wnct.com CITRUS COUNTY, FL (WFLA) -A Citrus County father is charged with killing his one-year-old son so he could keep playing video games.

The Sheriff’s Office says Cody Eugene Wygant, 24, is facing charges of 3rd degree murder and willful child neglect.

Daymeon Wygant, 1, was taken to Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center on Thursday morning, where he was pronounced dead.  The hospital contacted authorities, who went to 3450 S. Suncoast Blvd, Lot 43, Homosassa

In a meeting with detectives, Cody Wygant confessed to suffocating the boy so he could continue playing Xbox video games.  According to the arrest narrative, Wygant put his hand over the child's mouth and nose "for 3-4 minutes" to stop him from crying.

Afterwards, documents state that Wygant admitted to putting the boy in his playpen and wrapping him in bedding "in such a way as to prevent the decedent from receiving fresh air".

For five hours afterwards, investigators say Wygant played Xbox games and watched three episodes of the television show "Fringe".  When he next checked on Daymeon, he was "blue, not breathing, and unresponsive".

Wygant told deputies he was the boy's primary caregiver.  Wygant and his girlfriend also have a three-month-old daughter, who is in custody of the Department of Children and Families.  Wygant has an extensive criminal history in California, from trespassing to rape, but no previous arrests in Citrus County. to read more: wnct.com