DETROIT, MI – A 35-year-old Detroit man is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors say he left his 1-year-old daughter with strangers for hours, returned intoxicated on a motorcycle, and crashed while the child was unsecured, leaving her injured on the roadway.
Kabamba E. Kyalangalilwa has been charged with two counts of child abuse, along with child abandonment, reckless driving, and operating while license suspended, revoked, or denied, according to Wayne County court records. The charges stem from an incident reported on Detroit’s west side on June 28.
Prosecutors allege Kyalangalilwa brought his daughter to a party on Braile Street around 11:30 a.m., then took her to a nearby home and asked people he did not know to let the child swim with their children while he returned to the gathering.
Alleged crash and injuries
Roughly five hours later, authorities say Kyalangalilwa returned while intoxicated and operating a motorcycle. He allegedly retrieved his daughter and placed her on the motorcycle without securing her before driving away at speed.
According to investigators, he lost control of the motorcycle shortly after leaving, sending both himself and the toddler sliding across the roadway. The child struck her head on a curb and suffered cuts to her head, face, and legs. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Prosecutors say Kyalangalilwa did not remain at the scene. Instead, he allegedly attempted to flee in another vehicle before abandoning it and running away on foot.
Prosecutor condemns alleged conduct
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy described the case in stark terms, emphasizing the severity of the allegations.
“I do not recall in all of my years as a prosecutor and judge ever seeing a set of facts like this,” Worthy said. “The alleged conduct of this defendant was way beyond atrocious and horrendous.”
“This poor baby deserved the appropriate care, dedication, and simple human decency,” Worthy added. “It is miraculous that she is still among the living.”
Detroit police later asked for the public’s help in locating Kyalangalilwa and urged him to surrender. Child Protective Services has also opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Court proceedings and bond conditions
Kyalangalilwa was arraigned July 15 in Detroit’s 36th District Court, where a judge initially set bond at $100,000. During a bond redetermination hearing on July 21, the court reduced his release conditions to a $25,000 personal bond.
As part of those conditions, he is required to wear a GPS tether and comply with a nightly curfew, according to court records.
He is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 20 for a preliminary examination.
