Man Arrested for Stabbing Woman Then Throwing Their Daughter Off of a Cliff

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Ca. – A Palm Desert man is behind bars after allegedly stabbing his toddler daughter’s mother, then throwing the baby girl off of a steep cliff to her death. 

Palm Desert Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a parking lot in the 44100 block of Washington Street in Indian Wells for the report of a stabbing. When they arrived they found a female, later learned to be the mother of his 1-year-old daughter, suffering from multiple injuries as a result of a domestic violence incident. The woman was rushed to the hospital and is expected to survive. Adam Slater, 49, was identified as the suspect and it was learned that he left the scene with the child.

Slater’s description was broadcasted to local authorities. At 9:00 a.m. the CHP received a report of a traffic collision involving a vehicle similar to the suspect vehicle off of Highway 74 south of Vista Point. Witnesses said that the vehicle overturned several times as it went several hundred feet from the roadway. When the vehicle came to a rest, Slater ran to the passenger side of the vehicle to a good samaritan who was attempting to provide aid to the toddler passenger. Slater stabbed the male victim as he grabbed his daughter from his arms and threw her over a steep cliff and into a ravine, the news release said.

Slater then fled on foot into the canyon before deputies arrived. Witnesses pointed the deputies in the direction of the suspect who was later detained after a short foot pursuit. The child was located and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Slater was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries resulting from the collision. The good samaritan victim drove himself to the hospital for treatment. 

The Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation. The suspect, Adam Slater,  was released from the hospital on May 7, 2020 and was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center for murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon.

 The investigation is currently on-going and no further information will be released at this time. If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to call Investigator Munoz with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.

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