‘That’s the truth’: Babysitter speaks out after Ronan Davies’ death

A person of interest in the death of Adelaide baby Ronan Davies has spoken out, as police continue their investigations.

The babysitter of Adelaide baby Ronan Davies, who tragically lost his life after suffering catastrophic internal injuries, says he didn’t hurt the boy, insisting the toddler fell in an accident.

Police have considered a man – believed to be a friend of the 17-month-old’s father – a person of interest after little Ronan died not long after being in his care.

The heavily tattooed friend, who is yet to be formally named, claimed the toddler he “slipped” out of his pram.

“So when I left to take him to (my ex-girlfriend’s) place he slipped out of the pram and I picked him up and comforted him,” he told 7 NEWS Adelaide.

The reporter then confronted him about the fact police didn’t believe his claims, to which he responded: “Well, that’s the truth.”

Baby Ronan Davies tragically had his life cut short after sustaining fatal injuries. Picture: Facebook

Paramedics rushed Ronan to Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital in an unconscious and critical condition at about 6pm on Wednesday, June 7.

The toddler had suffered critical head injuries and “other serious internal injuries”, according to police.

His injuries were not survivable and Ronan died two days later.

Police now suspect the injuries may have been the result of an assault that occurred sometime on the afternoon of that Wednesday.

Detective Inspector Mark McEachern revealed that Ronan was being babysat by people known to his parents in the days leading up to the suspected assault at an address on Ferguson St in Glenelg North.

Police believe he sustained the injuries at this address.

BREAKING: 7NEWS can reveal exclusive details about the suspected murder of Ottoway toddler Ronan Davies. The man who was babysitting the 17-month-old when he sustained critical head injuries has told 7NEWS it was an accident. His interview only in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm. #7NEWSpic.twitter.com/yN4RYMv861

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) June 28, 2023

Ronan was returned to his father at Ottoway on the same day he was admitted to hospital, with the parent calling an ambulance after he was unable to rouse the young boy at about 4pm.

He appeared to be asleep when he was returned home to his parents, but police suspect he was unconscious.

“That’s our suspicion, that Ronan has been returned home, apparently asleep, but we suspect he sustained some injuries prior to that,” Inspector McEachern told reporters on Tuesday.

Inspector McEachern added that police were given an explanation as to how the baby was injured, but that they “were not satisfied as to the truthfulness of that information”.

He declined to provide details about what that explanation was.

His parents are remembering him as a “cheeky boy”. Picture: Facebook

Police have launched a major crime investigation into Ronan’s death, but no one has yet been charged. They are now calling on anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers as police try to figure out what happened to the “beautiful little boy”.

Ronan’s parents, Glenn Davies and his fiancee Melanie Nguyen, who police do not consider suspects, said their son was a “cheeky boy” who brought light to their lives.

“He was playful, he was happy, he was perfect in every way,” the father said outside their northwestern suburbs house at Ottoway, The Advertiser reports.

“I can’t count the amount of times I go looking for him.”

– With NCA Newswire