Logan father pleads guilty to starving baby to death

Zachary Michael Woirhaye booking photo from the Cache County Jail.

LOGAN — A 38-year-old Logan father has confessed to child abuse homicide, in the death of a one-month old baby a year ago.  Zachary Michael Woirhaye remains in the Cache County Jail since being arrested July 21, 2022.

According to court records, Woirhaye appeared Friday morning in 1st District Court. He accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty one count of child abuse homicide, amended to a second-degree felony.

Logan City Police officers were called to a hotel room on Dec. 31, 2021. Woirhaye and 34-year-old Jodi Lee Anderson had been residing at the hotel for several weeks. A 46-day-old infant boy was found lying on a bed, unresponsive, not breathing and with no heartbeat.

Paramedics transported the baby to Logan Regional Hospital and later to Primary Children’s Hospital. Medical staff said the boy was unhealthy, and showed signs of malnourishment and neglect. He died two weeks later.

Police later interviewed extended family members, who expressed concerns about both Woirhaye and Anderson’s mental capacity. They claimed the couple had to be continually reminded about feeding the child enough baby formula.

Woirhaye and Anderson were originally charged with aggravated murder, a capital offense. Jodi was also charged with obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.

During Friday’s hearing, Woirhaye waived his rights to a preliminary hearing and fair trial, accepting prosecutor’s plea deal. He was ordered to remain in jail and appear for sentencing March 27, when he could face up to 15-years in prison.

Anderson remains in jail and is scheduled to appear for a status hearing Feb. 27. She has yet to enter a plea to the charges.


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5 Comments

  • Dave Rodenberry February 20, 2023 at 11:08 am Reply

    Charge the family members who knew they couldn’t care for a baby as well. What irresponsible people.

  • AKH February 20, 2023 at 5:28 pm Reply

    I know this story has had a lot of debate around it, but having buried my sweet infant after she fought for her life, it’s hard for me to sympathize with anyone other than the baby. It’s been reported that both parents have developmental delays and the father was working 2 jobs, but I just can’t justify that in my mind, as a valid excuse for letting your own child starve to death. I can’t think of any excuse that would be valid. I pray this sweet baby is free from suffering and that those who neglected to uphold their duty as parents, can receive as just a punishment that can be given on this earth.

  • Tag February 20, 2023 at 8:06 pm Reply

    This is just so tragic. Someone who knew this family should have stepped in. So sad.

  • Kramer February 21, 2023 at 1:05 pm Reply

    Bury them

  • Jessica February 24, 2023 at 11:49 am Reply

    There is no excuse for this baby’s agonizing death! Slowly starved and neglected, left to die when family members knew what was going on. It doesn’t matter if they are “slow”. To go against everyone’s “reminding” makes it a deliberate act.
    There is nothing that any person can say that would make this senseless, cruel and disgusting murder of an innocent child okay. The parents and their family that did nothing should never see the light of day again.

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