Twenty-six-year-old Kristopher Houchin of Rapid City is charged with first degree rape, child abuse, and murder of an infant. Houchin was taken into custody on Friday, shortly after authorities received word from the Rapid City Hospital that an infant child had died. A preliminary autopsy Monday morning shows the infant victim died of blunt force trauma. Captain James Johns of the Rapid City Police Department say’s the autopsy lead to the murder charges.
“We had to wait until the autopsy results this morning to confirm what we had suspected and then once the autopsy was complete we went ahead and made the appropriate charging decision,” he says.
Houchin is now also being charged with second degree murder. His first court appearance is scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday morning.