He waited 2 hours to help his daughter after her mouth was taped shut. She later died.

The father of a 4-year-old girl who died after her mother restrained her in her bed and taped her mouth shut waited two hours to seek medical attention for the girl, officials said Wednesday.

David Lance Steadman, 24, is charged with homicide by child abuse, according to warrants. His wife, Cynthia Estrada-Lopez, has been arrested on the same charge in connection with the death of the couple’s 4-year-old daughter last month.

“Based on evidence collected since the death of the child, investigators believe Steadman returned home to find his daughter restrained in her bed and gasping for air the evening of July 31,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “Steadman then waited about two hours before seeking medical attention for his daughter.”

When paramedics responded to the family’s home later that evening, the girl was unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the hospital that night.

Steadman is being held in the Lexington County Detention Center while he awaits a bond hearing.

Koon said the investigation into the child’s death is still open.

This story was originally published August 16, 2017 at 11:29 AM with the headline "He waited 2 hours to help his daughter after her mouth was taped shut. She later died.."