Mom was in NICU when baby injured at WakeMed; dad charged with murder

A Harnett County father was charged Monday with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his newborn baby, a twin boy.

Noah Benjamin Bliss, 22, was arrested by police officers at WakeMed in Raleigh and charged with the first-degree murder of his son, 3-week-old Gunner Bliss. He also faces charges of intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury in the incident, which occurred on Oct. 6.

The baby's mother, Savannah Bliss, spoke only with WRAL reporter Chelsea Donovan, explaining that Gunner was injured at WakeMed while in his father's care.

According to Savannah Bliss, her husband was watching Gunner and their older child, a 1-year-old, in a room at WakeMed while she was on another floor visiting Gunner's twin sister in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at WakeMed.

Their mother said Gunner and his twin sister, Madelyn, were born prematurely at WakeMed on Sept. 15, at 34 weeks. The babies had not yet gone home from the hospital when Gunner was injured on Oct. 6.

"I want justice for my son," said Savannah Bliss. "I trusted my husband to watch Gunner while I was taking care of his sister in the ICU. He was sweetest boy with most beautiful blue eyes ... he was the best baby [and] for him to be taken so soon is so wrong."

The family was temporarily living at WakeMed's Heart Center Inn, a hotel-like space on the top floor of the hospital for families with loved ones receiving care downstairs.

According to Savannah Bliss, nurses told her Gunner's injuries indicate he was shaken by his father.

Medical staff told Savannah Bliss that Gunner had no external injuries or broken bones, but the infant suffered a brain bleed and swelling, and he was deprived of oxygen due to the head trauma he sustained. On Monday night, Gunner was taken off life support.

Noah Bliss appeared in court Tuesday, where he was jailed with no bond. His next court date is scheduled for November.

Savannah Bliss said she is still trying to understand how this could have happened.

"He seemed happy ... like a proud father," she said of her husband. "I never thought this would have happened ... I trusted him, that was his daddy ... he loved his babies."

"I just want justice for my son," Savannah said. "He was innocent."