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Man Charged with Murder After Baby's Death

TIFFIN -- 24-year-old Melissa Brown from Tiffin was trying to be a good mom, going back to college so she could get a better job and support her daughter MeKenna.  She left her 21-month-old with a trusted friend, or so she thought, while she went to class.  When she got home, she had to rush her baby to the hospital, and now the man she left to care for her baby is facing a charge of murder.

"She trusted him.  I trusted him," said Brown.  The "him" she was talking about is Steven Estep.  While on her way home on Wednesday, she called to check up MeKenna.  "[Steven's] like, 'I don't know.  I think there might be something wrong.'"  MeKenna had problems with asthma, so Melissa thought maybe that was the problem.  She she called 911, went to the hospital, and doctors told her the news.  "He basically sat me down and told me somebody shook my daughter really hard," said Melissa.

Little MeKenna had to be put on life support.  Mom had to make the most dreadful decision of her life.  "I just felt so helpless," cried Melissa.  "That's my baby girl.  That's the one I'm always trying to help," she said continuing to let the tears flow.  Mom let her baby go.  "When I was holding her in my arms before we took her off life support, we got to hold her, the whole family got around," Melissa remembered.

MeKenna now rests in Greenlawn Cemetary in Tiffin.  "Why" is such a big question when it comes to this case.  The family said the sheriff told them Estep admitted to shaking MaKenna which is something Melissa said she still can't believe.  She told us Estep always helped out, was always was supportive, and never showed his anger.

"He was the kind of guy who if I said, 'Ew! There's a spider. Kill it!'  He'd be like, 'Take it outside' and he would take it outside," Melissa told News 11.

Now he's charged with murder.  "Why did he not try to fix her?" asked Melissa while crying.  "Why did I just happen to call?  That's what really tears me up.  I don't know the answers," she said.

The entire situation has been beyond painful for Melissa.  "As much as she needed me, I need her," she told us as she broke down in tears once again.

If you would like to help the family with the final expenses, you can send a donation to the Engle-Shook funeral home in Tiffin in the name of MeKenna Brown.

Posted by AEB