Former in-laws defend man accused of killing baby

TAMPA -- Former in-laws of a man deputies say killed his girlfriend's 2-year-old baby say Robert Bradwell has never hurt a child.

Bradwell (pictured), a 36-year-old Tampa man, was arrested Monday, charged with murder in the death of little Makaila Thompson.

A sheriff's spokeswoman said Bradwell was caring for Makaila Thompson and her 4-year-old brother at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 5 when Makaila was injured. Bradwell is the boyfriend of the girl's mother, Monique Thompson, and he has lived with her for about a year at 14204 N 20th St., Apt. B, sheriff's officials said in a statement.

"It's just mind-boggling that they would charge him with murder," said Roy Green, 35, who said he has known Bradwell since 1998.

Bradwell has several grandchildren who adore him, Green said. "All the kids, when they come, they're like, 'Where's my granddaddy?' I've seen them interact with him. If he's going to the store, they want to go with him."

Bradwell was married to Green's aunt, Sandra Bradwell, until they divorced in 2006, according to court records. Court records also show that Sandra Bradwell requested temporary injunctions for protection against Robert Bradwell twice, once in 1999 and once in 2000.

But Green said that while the couple may have had their differences, Robert Bradwell has never been known to hurt a child.

"He's a nice, good person," said Rick Wilson, 30, Sandra Bradwell's son and Robert Bradwell's former stepson.

Sometime around midnight on Sept. 6, Bradwell took Makaila to University Community Hospital, according to the Sheriff's Office. At 12:15 a.m., an emergency room doctor there determined the baby had been dead for about an hour.

Bradwell told detectives that the child had fallen in the bathtub while she was bathing with her 4-year-old brother. He told them, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter, that he was outside drinking beer and smoking marijuana while the kids were bathing. The children had been in his sole care since 9:30 that night.

A Medical Examiner determined Mikaila died as a result of blunt impact to her torso and laceration of her heart, caused by being beaten by another person. She had a bruise on the outside corner of her left eye and another mark to the left of the bruise. Her cheek was swollen, and she had evidence of a bloody nose, Carter said.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Bradwell on Monday and arrested him without incident. He faces a first-degree murder charge and is being held without bail.

Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer

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