A Slatington man could face up to 40 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing a 4-month-old infant last year.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced a guilty plea on Friday in the 2023 homicide of a 4-month-old infant.

George C. Sutch, 56, pleaded guilty to murder of the third degree, a felony of the first degree at a hearing before Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks.

Sutch is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. May 29 and under the terms of his guilty plea, faces a possible minimum sentence of up to 18 years of incarceration and a maximum sentence of up to 40 years. Sutch remains in Lehigh County Jail with no bail.

On Feb. 11, 2023, Slatington Police received a 911 call from a home at 5 N. 7th St., Apartment 9, for an unresponsive infant.

The 4-month-old boy was not breathing and was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.

District Attorney detectives said the infant had “severe head trauma” and an investigation revealed that the injuries occurred during a violent shaking incident.

The baby was pronounced dead at the hospital on Feb. 13, 2023.

Detectives said Sutch was the boyfriend of the baby’s mother and was the last person who had contact with the baby before the 911 call was made.

During an interview on June 21, Sutch admitted that he became frustrated with the baby’s mother. He said that he fed and burped the baby, but began shaking him when he would not stop crying.

According to the criminal complaint, Sutch acknowledged that the baby stopped breathing after he shook him. Sutch said that he then left the room.

An autopsy determined the infant’s cause of death was head injuries and his death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner.

The investigation determined that Sutch caused the infant’s injuries.

The case was investigated by Lehigh County detectives Gregg Dietz and Andy Millen and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Ashley N. Troxell.