A 22-year-old Hopewell father faces felony homicide and related charges after the death of his five-month-old son, with prosecutors presenting a recorded phone conversation in which he allegedly admitted shaking the crying infant.
Nathan Scott Travis-Nunnally is accused in the June 2026 death of Skottie. Emergency responders were called to a Rodeway Inn on Oaklawn Boulevard around 10:40 a.m. on June 14 after the baby became unresponsive. The infant was treated at area hospitals and later the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. He died on June 19 from severe injuries.
At an October 15 preliminary hearing in Hopewell Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, prosecutors played a cellphone recording made by the baby’s uncle while at the ICU. In the call, Travis-Nunnally is heard saying,
“I just wanted him to be quiet.”
He stated he started screaming at the infant, picked him up, shook him, and told him to “shut the f up.” The baby then went limp, according to the statements reported from the recording.
Travis-Nunnally remains in custody without bond. The charges felony homicide, malicious assault, and child abuse were certified to a grand jury expected to review the case in December. He has not been tried or convicted.
Dr. Robin Foster, who leads the child protection team at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, testified that Skottie suffered extensive brain bleeding and swelling. The infant was in full cardiac arrest for more than 30 minutes. An EEG showed no organized brain waves. Police described the injuries as consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
The defense asked whether the baby’s cranial helmet, worn to correct skull shape, could have contributed. Foster testified that Skottie was otherwise healthy and scheduled to have the helmet removed shortly after the incident.
Petersburg court records show an event occurring on July 1, 2025, involving domestic violence. According to the records, the female partner accused Travis-Nunnally of holding a knife to threaten her that he would harm her if she left him. Travis-Nunnally faced charges of assault. The judge found the evidence enough to prove the charge and decided to defer the decision until February 2026 when the program of anger management is completed.
It seems that Travis-Nunnally was unable to do so and failed to attend his hearing scheduled in April 2026 due to noncompliance with the court ruling. As a result, the violation of the court order was dropped. The cause of that dismissal remains unclear according to the information provided. No official explanation has been given so far.
Skottie’s mother, Sarina Aldrich, has described her son as
“my heart, my soul, everything to me.”
Family members noted he was a happy baby who loved Winnie-the-Pooh, Bluey, and Dragon Tales, with a favorite Tigger toy. Grandparents attended the hearing seeking justice.
The case continues. Allegations remain unproven in a final trial, and the unanswered question about the earlier dismissal stands as a matter for further public record review.
