Former Rochester Man Admits to Murder Charge For Infant’s Death

Red Wing, MN (KROC-AM News) - A former Rochester man has admitted to a murder charge in connection with the death of his infant son.

28-year-old Hunter Matthew McCutchen, who currently has a Red Wing address, was charged last fall with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree manslaughter, third-degree assault, domestic assault, torture of a child and child neglect, along with malicious punishment of a trial. All of the charges stemmed from the investigation into the death of the baby in May of last year.

READ MORE: Former Rochester Man Faces First-Degree Murder Indictment

According to the criminal complaint, McCutchen met the baby's mother in November 2021, and after living together in Rochester, they moved to Red Wing last April. The following month, the Red Wing Fire Department was dispatched to the couple's residence on a report of an infant not breathing and found the child unresponsive. The baby was initially taken to the hospital in Red Wing, but was then airlifted to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

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The court document says Mayo Clinic physicians found evidence of multiple rib fractures in various stages of healing and a leg fracture. The charges state the positions indicated the injuries were "highly suggestive of nonaccidental trauma." The criminal complaint also indicates imaging file multiple areas of bleeding on the brain pointed to the possibility of "shaken baby syndrome."

According to court records, the evidence against McCutchen included an audio recording of a cell phone conversation that was made by the child's mother during which McCutchen is heard admitting he had become overwhelmed and had shaken the baby.

Under the terms of a plea agreement reached today in Goodhue County Court, McCutchen entered a guilty plea to a second-degree murder charge. In exchange, all of the other charges will be dismissed.

His sentencing hearing has been scheduled in September. In the meantime, the judge presiding over the case has ordered him held without bail or bond.

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