REMEMBERING AVA

Ava Renee Harford was only nine weeks old when her life was taken on August 19, 2008, in Maine.

Born on June 16, 2008, Ava was a beautiful baby girl who had barely begun her life.

At nine weeks old, she was still discovering the world through familiar voices, gentle touches, and the comfort of being held.

She was the daughter of Kirby Gushee and Robert E. Harford Jr.

Her mother and father shared responsibility for caring for her, with assistance from family members.

Ava should have been safe in the arms of the people responsible for protecting her.

Instead, while alone with her father, she suffered catastrophic injuries that ended her life two days later.

Her death devastated her family and led to a criminal case that would continue for more than a year.

Ava was not simply an infant whose death became the subject of a murder investigation.

She was a daughter whose family loved her and whose life held immeasurable promise.

Ava's Story

On August 17, 2008, Ava was at home in Rockland, Maine, with her father, Robert E. Harford Jr.

Her mother, Kirby Gushee, was working at the Samoset Resort in Rockport.

That evening, Ava began crying.

According to statements later presented by prosecutors, Harford became frustrated because his nine-week-old daughter would not stop crying.

He picked Ava up and violently threw her toward the floor.

Harford later acknowledged that he believed Ava struck the side of a refrigerator as he threw her.

The impact caused devastating injuries to her head.

Rather than immediately providing investigators with an accurate account, Harford initially claimed that he had accidentally dropped Ava while picking her up for an evening feeding.

He said he noticed that her breathing was abnormal.

Harford attempted to contact Ava's mother on her cell phone.

When she did not answer, he called her workplace and left a message.

After Kirby was reached, she instructed him to call 911.

Emergency responders arrived and transported Ava to Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

Because of the severity of her injuries, Ava was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Doctors attempted to save her life.

Despite their efforts, Ava died on August 19, 2008, two days after the assault.

An autopsy performed by Maine's chief medical examiner, Dr. Margaret Greenwald, determined that Ava died from blunt force trauma to her head.

The examination revealed multiple skull fractures.

Medical examiners also discovered evidence of healing rib fractures that remained unexplained.

Those older injuries raised additional concerns about what Ava may have experienced before the fatal assault, although the available reporting does not establish when or how they occurred.

During the investigation, Harford's account of what happened changed.

He initially maintained that he had accidentally dropped his daughter.

Later, investigators obtained recorded conversations involving Harford and Ava's mother.

During those conversations, Harford reportedly made statements about shaking Ava.

Prosecutors subsequently described additional statements in which Harford acknowledged throwing his daughter and believed she struck the refrigerator.

The defense disputed allegations that he had shaken Ava as part of the assault, maintaining that any shaking occurred while he was attempting to revive her.

The evidence nevertheless established that Harford had intentionally thrown his infant daughter in frustration.

Ava was only nine weeks old.

She was far too young to understand why she was being hurt, defend herself, or escape the violence.

Her crying was an ordinary part of infancy.

She needed comfort, patience, and protection.

Instead, she suffered fatal injuries at the hands of her father.

JUSTICE FOR AVA

Following Ava's death, Maine State Police investigated the circumstances surrounding her injuries.

On August 20, 2008, Robert E. Harford Jr. was arrested and charged with manslaughter.

A grand jury subsequently indicted him on charges that included murder and manslaughter.

The prosecution maintained that Ava's death was not an accident.

Investigators relied on Harford's changing statements, medical findings, and evidence concerning the force that caused her fatal injuries.

On October 16, 2009, Harford appeared in Waldo County Superior Court and pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

As part of the proceedings, the murder charge was dismissed.

During the hearing, prosecutors described how Harford became frustrated with Ava's crying and threw her toward the floor.

On December 29, 2009, Harford appeared in Knox County Superior Court for sentencing.

Members of Ava's family addressed the court and described the devastating impact of her death.

Her mother spoke about the pain of losing her daughter and the memory of seeing her lifeless body.

Ava's family asked the court to recognize the seriousness of what had happened to their little girl.

Justice Jeffrey Hjelm sentenced Harford to 25 years in prison, with all but 16 years suspended.

Harford was also ordered to serve six years of probation following his release.

Although the sentence could not restore Ava's life, the conviction established criminal responsibility for her death.

 

Robert E. Harford Jr.

Relationship to Ava: Father

Conviction: Domestic violence manslaughter

Sentence: 25 years in prison, with all but 16 years suspended, followed by 6 years of probation

FOREVER REMEMBERED

Ava Renee Harford lived for only nine weeks.

Nine weeks was not nearly enough time for her family to discover the little girl she would become.

She should have celebrated her first birthday.

She should have learned to crawl, taken her first steps, and spoken her first words.

There should have been childhood photographs, family celebrations, school mornings, and years of memories.

Instead, her life ended before she was three months old.

Ava's mother was left with memories of a daughter she loved and a future they would never share.

The loss of a child so young leaves behind questions that can never be answered.

What would Ava's first word have been?

What would have made her laugh?

What interests, talents, and dreams might she have discovered as she grew older?

Her family never received the chance to find out.

Ava deserved the opportunity to experience all of those things.

She deserved to be comforted when she cried.

She deserved gentle hands, patience, and the security of knowing that the adults around her would keep her safe.

Her crying was not wrongdoing.

It was the only way a nine-week-old baby could communicate her needs.

Ava should never have suffered because an adult became frustrated.

Although her life was heartbreakingly short, it mattered.

She was a daughter, a beloved baby girl, and a child whose future deserved to be protected.

Her story reminds us that even the youngest and most vulnerable children deserve safety, compassion, and care.

Ava Renee Harford will always be more than the circumstances of her death.

She will be remembered for the precious life she lived and the lifetime she deserved.

Abuse Angels remembers Ava Renee Harford.

Remembered. Honored. Never Forgotten.