A Colorado man has been charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death following the fatal injury of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter, a case that investigators say contradicts his initial explanation to police.

Nicholas Stout, 38, was taken into custody over the weekend after officers responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive toddler at a residence in the 100 block of South Vrain Street in Denver during the early hours of Sunday, Jan. 18. First responders pronounced the child dead at the scene, according to the Denver Police Department.

Court documents later identified the victim as Valkyrie Erickson. Her mother, 38-year-old Melissa Wayne, was arrested days later and now faces one count of child abuse resulting in death.

Investigators say Stout attempted to deflect responsibility during questioning, claiming the toddler was a “dare devil” and that her injuries were accidental. In a probable cause affidavit, police wrote: “Nicholas [Stout] described Valkyrie as a ‘dare devil’ and stated that she liked to jump around on the bed.”

Stout told detectives the child struck her head while he tried to stop her from jumping, adding that he had left the home later that night to buy cigarettes. Authorities say that version of events was undermined by witness testimony.

A housemate who had lived at the residence for approximately a week told investigators he frequently heard Stout yelling at the child, often followed by sounds consistent with physical strikes coming from the bedroom shared by Stout, Wayne, and the toddler.

According to the affidavit, the witness reported hearing yelling between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2026, including statements such as “You f—ing bit me” and “I f—ing hate you,” after which the child stopped crying and the home became quiet for the rest of the night.

Police noted that others in the household described Stout as volatile and avoided interacting with him due to his behavior. A summary of witness descriptions characterized him as “Short fused,” “hot headed,” “unhinged,” “unpredictable,” “goes off the wall,” and “very aggressive,” according to a report cited by KUSA.

Stout appeared in court Tuesday, where a judge ordered him held without bond, local outlet KCNC reported. Wayne remains in custody as the investigation continues and prosecutors prepare the case for court.