Collegedale father indicted, mother charged after infant daughter’s death

COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A Collegedale father has been indicted after the tragic death of his infant daughter last summer.

On August 12, 2024, officers with the Collegedale Police Department (CDPD) were working an active school zone when they encountered Timothy Paul Blackdeer, and his unresponsive daughter, Violet Blackdeer.

According to CDPD, despite all efforts to revive the child, she was pronounced deceased.

Investigators later determined that Violet was left unattended in her father’s SUV for most of the day, while outdoor temperatures reached the upper 80s.

Timothy had been working at a nearby construction site.

After a further investigation, a Hamilton County Grand Jury indicted Timothy earlier this week, charging him with First-Degree Murder and Aggravated Child Abuse and Neglect in the death of his daughter.

Violet’s mother, Catelin Danielle Blackdeer, was also charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide in connection to the infant’s death.