Staci Lynn Barbosa and Jonathan Edward Vandergriff are accused of raping and murdering their one month old son in 2010. While the Mohave County Attorney's Office planned on seeking the death penalty against Mr. Vandergriff, they have now backed off that tactic.

As James King of the Phoenix New Times writes ("No Death Penalty For Bullhead City Couple Accused of Killing Newborn During "Brutal" Sexual Attack"): 

In the morning of June 15, 2010, police were called to Western Arizona Regional Medical Center's Emergency Room where the one-month-old baby was "fighting for his life." 

Police say they saw bruises and sores all over the baby's body and his eyes were red and swollen shut. Doctors then told police the baby had several broken ribs, a broken femur, was malnourished, dehydrated, and showed signs of sexual abuse and shaken baby syndrome.

At the time of the baby's death, Bullhead City Police Department spokeswoman Emily Montague told New Times it appeared the couple "raped" their own baby.

The story does not explicitly state why prosecutors are no longer seeking the death penalty against Mr. Vandergriff or why they never sought the death penalty against Ms. Barbosa in the first place.