Carrie Marie Murray, a registered nurse, discovered her 18-month-old daughter Ruby Marie Murray deceased in her crib around 10:30 a.m. on March 19, 2025, at the family's home in Nibley, Utah—a community roughly 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. When she called 911, Murray told dispatchers she believed the child was beyond help and refused to perform lifesaving measures despite her medical training, according to probable cause statements obtained by Law&Crime.
Background
The investigation into Ruby's death revealed a pattern of severe neglect that stretched back days before the toddler's demise. Police responding to the 911 call found the child lying in a crib cluttered with dirty sippy cups, Eggo-style waffle remnants, and trash—including wrappers and food particles—stuffed beneath the mattress. The room where Ruby was kept registered at 77 degrees Fahrenheit while her body temperature measured just 83 degrees, placing her at risk of hypothermia despite the warm environment.
When investigators interviewed Murray about Ruby's death, she offered a chilling assessment. "It was her time I guess," she told police, according to the probable cause statement. The mother also claimed her daughter's death resulted from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, though she acknowledged Ruby was older than typical for a SIDS victim. Most disturbing to detectives, Murray stated she felt no responsibility for what had occurred. "I feel guilt really strong—I feel no guilt over this," she told investigators.
The Investigation
Review of baby monitor footage provided crucial evidence for investigators. The recordings showed that on March 18—the day before Ruby died—neither Carrie Murray, Mitchell Murray, nor their four-year-old child ever removed the toddler from her crib. Mitchell Murray placed a sippy cup and waffle in the crib at 11:57 a.m. and again at 6:29 p.m. The total recorded interaction between all three adults and Ruby that entire day amounted to just 49 seconds, according to prosecutors.
Mitchell Murray told investigators he routinely kept Ruby confined to what he called "crib days"—periods lasting an entire day while he worked from home. He said this practice occurred once or twice weekly. During the four days preceding her death, investigators determined Ruby spent only six hours outside her crib and was in another person's presence for less than 50 minutes total. Her diaper was never changed on March 18 and received only six changes across those four full days.
Detectives also learned that Ruby had been fed primarily toasted waffles rather than appropriate baby food. Parents told investigators she ate actual baby food only once or twice, with most meals consisting solely of the frozen breakfast item. The room blared loud rock music from bands including Green Day and Fall Out Boy at all hours—audio that "appeared to interfere with her ability to sleep," according to court documents.
An autopsy determined Ruby died from dehydration and undernutrition. Medical examiners concluded the parents had "unreasonably subjected" their daughter to excessive heat, darkness, solitary confinement, or sleep deprivation in the months leading up to her death.
The Charges
Prosecutors initially charged both Murray and Mitchell Chesnut Murray, 31, with murder in connection with Ruby's death. However, both defendants pleaded guilty on July 10, 2026, to reduced charges of child abuse homicide and aggravated child abuse as part of a plea agreement with the state. Prosecutors dismissed the original murder counts against each parent. Under the deal, both defendants face up to 15 years in prison for each count—a potential maximum of 30 years apiece.
Carrie Murray's status as a registered nurse added another layer to the prosecution's case, given her specialized training that might have enabled her to recognize and respond to signs of medical distress in an infant. Both defendants are scheduled for sentencing on September 21, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Ruby Marie Murray was just 18 months old when she died from dehydration and undernutrition at her family's home in Nibley, Utah, on March 19, 2025
- Baby monitor footage revealed parents had only 49 seconds of recorded interaction with the toddler on the day before her death
- The child's crib contained dirty sippy cups, food remnants, and trash stuffed beneath the mattress; her room was kept at 77 degrees while her body temperature dropped to 83 degrees
- Parents fed Ruby almost exclusively toasted waffles instead of proper baby food, investigators alleged
- Mitchell Murray admitted to routinely leaving Ruby in "crib days" for entire workdays—once or twice weekly—for months before her death
- Both defendants pleaded guilty to child abuse homicide and aggravated child abuse; prosecutors dropped murder charges as part of the plea deal
What's Next
Carrie Murray and Mitchell Murray are scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2026. Both face up to 15 years in prison for each of their two counts, meaning they could receive up to 30 years apiece if the court imposes consecutive sentences. The case remains under investigation by the Cache County Sheriff's Office, which handled the initial response and evidence collection.
The guilty pleas mark a significant development in what prosecutors described as a prolonged pattern of neglect that ultimately proved fatal for an infant entirely dependent on her parents for sustenance, safety, and basic care.