BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- There have been too many stories in recent years of children dying while in the care of a parent's partner. The latest death involves a 6-month-old girl in southwest Bakersfield.

There are still many unanswered questions as to what happened Wednesday morning inside an apartment in the 4700 block of Country Place Lane.

According to police, Roman Brand, 23, woke up to his girlfriend's 6-month-old daughter Ayonna Thompson crying.

He gave her a bottle and when she didn't stop crying police said he hit her.

Ayonna died a few hours later at the hospital from blunt force trauma to the head, according to the coroner's report.

Brand was arrested on murder charges. But he is no stranger to violence in the past. He spent 180 days in jail for spousal abuse in 2007, according to court records.

Raye Bugnosen of the Alliance Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault said often times domestic violence trickles down to other forms of violence.

And when it comes to violence against a partners child, Bugnosen said it is often times because the person lacks a connection with the child.

"The partner that comes in to that relationship does not have what is known as the attachment or bonding that is necessary to provide the type of care and love and nourishment and treatment for the child," said Bugnosen.

Bugnosen added an act of violence is typically not a single episode, it is a pattern.

"The key to prevention of these for these situations happening again or occurring again in our community is to raise awareness and to educate our parents," she said.

If you need somebody to talk to about domestic abuse or child abuse you can call Alliance help line at (661) 327-1091.