This unfortunately so common. Mom is forced to work and earn a paycheck while the temperamental (often unemployed) father flips on the baby for "fussiness." Notice how even the police make excuses for him, and how Mom has lost custody even though she was trying to be responsible and keep a roof over everybody's head.
Dad is identified as JAMES BLACKSTON.
http://www.14news.com/story/22411399/henderson-father-beats-his-infant-son
Henderson father accused of beating his infant son
Posted: May 23, 2013 7:27 PM EDT Updated: May 24, 2013 7:34 AM EDT
By Gabrielle Shirley
Updated: May 24, 2013 2:16 PM EDT
HENDERSON CO, KY (WFIE) -
A Henderson father is accused of inflicting life threatening injuries on his seven month old son. James Blackston was arrested on Tuesday and he is facing an assault charge.
The Henderson Police Department says Blackston was left to care for his infant son and two or three other children while the mother was a work on Sunday, May 19th. Blackston allegedly became frustrated with his infant son's fussiness and he began to act irrationally. The infant's injuries were severe but, according to the police, he received immediate medical attention after his father brought him to St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.
"I think that it's just one of those cases," said Jennifer Richmond, the Henderson Police Department's Public Information Officer. "He lost control but that is never an excuse. I am a parent myself."
The police say that they found other signs of physical abuse on the infant and that the other children are currently being cared for by Blackston's mother.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Killer dad gets death penalty for murders of two sons (Dallas, Texas)
We've followed this case for two years. Convicted killer dad NAIM RASOOL MUHAMMAD has finally been sentenced to death for the murders of his two sons.
http://texomashomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=278772
Dallas County Jury Sentences Father Who Drowned Sons to Death
By: NBC DFW Updated: May 24, 2013
A North Texas man was sentenced to death on Thursday for drowning his two young sons in a Dallas-area creek.
The Dallas County jury took about three and a half hours to sentence Naim Rasool Muhammad. The same jury took less than 10 minutes last week to find him guilty of capital murder in the deaths of 5-year-old Naim and 3-year-old Elijah.
"I apologize for bringing any pain and hurt on anybody for the actions that I have caused to you all," Muhammad said after the sentence was announced.
He said that the only reason he did it was because he wanted to be a father and thought that was being taken away.
Muhammad killed Naim and Elijah in August 2011. Authorities say he forced the boys and their mother, Kametra Sampson, into a car and started driving on what was supposed to be Naim's first day of school.
"You've shown that you have no boundaries, that nothing is sacred to you -- not even the bond between a father and son," Sampson said after the verdict was announced.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Tammy Kemp called Muhammad "a monster" and "100 percent pure evil." That angered Muhammad's mother, who stood up and shouted, "That is not a monster. He is my son." She bolted from the courtroom but could be heard shouting in the corridor outside as Kemp resumed her closing argument.
http://texomashomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=278772
Dallas County Jury Sentences Father Who Drowned Sons to Death
By: NBC DFW Updated: May 24, 2013
A North Texas man was sentenced to death on Thursday for drowning his two young sons in a Dallas-area creek.
The Dallas County jury took about three and a half hours to sentence Naim Rasool Muhammad. The same jury took less than 10 minutes last week to find him guilty of capital murder in the deaths of 5-year-old Naim and 3-year-old Elijah.
"I apologize for bringing any pain and hurt on anybody for the actions that I have caused to you all," Muhammad said after the sentence was announced.
He said that the only reason he did it was because he wanted to be a father and thought that was being taken away.
Muhammad killed Naim and Elijah in August 2011. Authorities say he forced the boys and their mother, Kametra Sampson, into a car and started driving on what was supposed to be Naim's first day of school.
"You've shown that you have no boundaries, that nothing is sacred to you -- not even the bond between a father and son," Sampson said after the verdict was announced.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Tammy Kemp called Muhammad "a monster" and "100 percent pure evil." That angered Muhammad's mother, who stood up and shouted, "That is not a monster. He is my son." She bolted from the courtroom but could be heard shouting in the corridor outside as Kemp resumed her closing argument.
Dad accused of picking up 7-year-old son over his head, throwing him to the ground (Warsaw, New York)
Dad is identified as CHRISTOPHER CUMMINGS.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20130524/NEWS01/130524001
May 24, 2013 7:35 AM
Father Accused of Throwing Son at Walmart: Father Accused of Throwing Son at Walmart Written by WGRZ - TV
Christopher Cummings, 28, or Warsaw, Wyoming County, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.
A father is accused of picking his seven-year-old son up over his head and throwing him to the ground at Walmart in Batavia, Genesee County.
Christopher Cummings, 28, or Warsaw, Wyoming County, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.
Police say tips from the public and surveillance video from the store helped them catch Cummings after he left the store.
The boy was also located uninjured.
Cummings was remanded to the Genesee County Jail and is being held on $2,500 bond.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20130524/NEWS01/130524001
May 24, 2013 7:35 AM
Father Accused of Throwing Son at Walmart: Father Accused of Throwing Son at Walmart Written by WGRZ - TV
Christopher Cummings, 28, or Warsaw, Wyoming County, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.
A father is accused of picking his seven-year-old son up over his head and throwing him to the ground at Walmart in Batavia, Genesee County.
Christopher Cummings, 28, or Warsaw, Wyoming County, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.
Police say tips from the public and surveillance video from the store helped them catch Cummings after he left the store.
The boy was also located uninjured.
Cummings was remanded to the Genesee County Jail and is being held on $2,500 bond.
"Sole carer" dad charged with manslaughter in death of 3-year-old daughter (Petrie, Australia)
I assumed that by "sole carer" they mean that dad MATTHEW WILLIAMSON was custodial.
So who made that fatal decision? How did this come about? What happened to this little girl's mother? Of course, there is not a word of explanation. There seldom is.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/national/father-charged-with-manslaughter-and-child-cruelty-over-death-of-kyhesha-lee-joughin/story-fnii5v6y-1226650132128
Father Matthew Williamson charged with manslaughter and child cruelty over death of Kyhesha-Lee Joughin
Brittany Vonow• The Courier-Mail• May 24, 201310:00PM
A FATHER who had his daughter's name tattooed on his arm and called her his little girl has been charged over the three-year-old's death.
Matthew Williamson is due to appear in court today on charges of child cruelty and manslaughter of Kyhesha-Lee Joughin.
The 28-year-old, who was the sole carer of the toddler when she died in their Petrie unit in March, was interviewed by detectives for five hours yesterday before being arrested.
The father spent the night at Brisbane Watchhouse and is due to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning.
Police first interviewed Williamson in late March.
The mystery surrounding her death plagued her family, who created a memorial page and spoke to The Courier-Mail about their beautiful girl.
"She was a very bubbly child . . . no matter what, she was always smiling," her uncle Jarrod Williamson said in April.
Police interviewed a 44-year-old Grafton man soon after the toddler's death and he was arrested on traffic charges. He has not been charged in relation to Kyhesha-Lee’s death.
So who made that fatal decision? How did this come about? What happened to this little girl's mother? Of course, there is not a word of explanation. There seldom is.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/national/father-charged-with-manslaughter-and-child-cruelty-over-death-of-kyhesha-lee-joughin/story-fnii5v6y-1226650132128
Father Matthew Williamson charged with manslaughter and child cruelty over death of Kyhesha-Lee Joughin
Brittany Vonow• The Courier-Mail• May 24, 201310:00PM
A FATHER who had his daughter's name tattooed on his arm and called her his little girl has been charged over the three-year-old's death.
Matthew Williamson is due to appear in court today on charges of child cruelty and manslaughter of Kyhesha-Lee Joughin.
The 28-year-old, who was the sole carer of the toddler when she died in their Petrie unit in March, was interviewed by detectives for five hours yesterday before being arrested.
The father spent the night at Brisbane Watchhouse and is due to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning.
Police first interviewed Williamson in late March.
The mystery surrounding her death plagued her family, who created a memorial page and spoke to The Courier-Mail about their beautiful girl.
"She was a very bubbly child . . . no matter what, she was always smiling," her uncle Jarrod Williamson said in April.
Police interviewed a 44-year-old Grafton man soon after the toddler's death and he was arrested on traffic charges. He has not been charged in relation to Kyhesha-Lee’s death.
Dad on trial for assaulting one infant twin son after other son hospitalized and later died (Ottawa, Canada)
Um, yea. It really, really was, um, an accident, a terrible coincidence, that Daddy broke the ribs of the one infant son after the other was airlifted to a children's hospital coughing up blood. (That baby later died.) Yea, really. And I have a bridge I'd like to sell ya....
Is UNNAMED DAD a single father? Notice the statemetnt about how this poor, frustrated daddy was just so"distraught" by the child and infant care that he was performing "24/7." Mothers would never get away with this excuse. It's just assumed that any woman should be able to take on these responsibilities and somehow manage without all the whining.
What happened to the mother of these babies? Why was she apparently not in the home? It's as if the babies had been personally delivered to Daddy by the stork. Why do reporters continuously erase mothers from these stories, as if no one ever gave birth to these children? Is she alive, dead, "missing" or what?
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Grieving+father+intend+harm+infant+defence+argues/8420967/story.html
Grieving father did not intend to harm infant son, defence argues
By Chloé Fedio, OTTAWA CITIZEN May 22, 2013
OTTAWA — A young father in mourning over the death of one twin son became so overwhelmed after the second twin was airlifted to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario that he squeezed the crying baby out of stress and broke his ribs, a Crown prosecutor argued at the man’s assault trial.
“(The man’s) frustration at that time and his depression and grieving over his other child became too much,” Donna Eastwood argued during closing statements in an Ottawa courtroom. “He could not cope. The baby was extremely irritable and difficult to settle.”
The man, 25, cannot be named due to a publication ban meant to protect the identity of his son. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing bodily harm.
Defence lawyer Sam Adam argued there’s “an innocent explanation” for the eight-week-old boy’s injuries.
“He did not intend to cause any harm to his son,” Adam said.
Despite the trial’s many witnesses — including a social worker, five nurses, a medical student, two experts and the accused who testified in his own defence — Adam argued that “we still don’t know exactly what happened.”
The Crown theorized that the baby’s 12 rib fractures were a result of being squeezed by his father on Jan. 29, 2011, and again two days later on Jan. 31 while the child was in hospital.
A nurse testified she heard the “high-pitched cry of a child” twice on Jan. 29 while his father was holding him. But Adam pointed out that she did not chart concerns, report abuse or notice that the child had any injuries afterward.
Further, experts did not say conclusively that the ribs were fractured on two separate occasions — just that the fractures were believed to have occurred between Jan. 25 and Feb. 3, Adam said. He also argued that experts testified the injuries were not necessarily caused by squeezing.
The father testified that on one occasion, the infant slipped out of his grasp and he lunged forward to grab him mid-air. On a second occasion, he said the boy suffered an apneic spell and that he administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation while he called out for a nurse to help. The “inexperienced, panicked father” used his palm, which could have crushed the ribs, Adam argued.
“He had already lost one son and was terrified to lose another,” Adam argued. “His evidence is, he felt he had to do it to save his son.”
But Eastwood pointed out that the nurse who entered the room did not see the man administer CPR. The nurse rubbed the baby’s back until breathing resumed.
The man’s “false story,” Eastwood argued, “ought not to be believed.”
Eastwood also argued that “it’s not realistic” that the man would have dropped his son because he “has lots of experience holding children.”
The man had been caring for “four children in diapers” when his five-week-old infant son died, Eastwood said.
“He’s essentially looking after those children 24/7 without a break,” she said.
Just 12 days later, the second twin was airlifted to CHEO from the Kashechewan First Nation near James Bay after coughing up blood.
Eastwood argued that the grieving father was “distressed, distraught and angry” during his time at CHEO, especially because there were rumours in his community that he had somehow contributed to his son’s death.
“Surely, it has to be more than a coincidence” that he intentionally applied force on two separate occasions, Eastwood said.
Adam countered that there’s an “air of reality” to the man’s version, which does not amount to child abuse.
“Essentially, what happened to him is not a crime,” Adam said.
A decision is expected on July 31.
Is UNNAMED DAD a single father? Notice the statemetnt about how this poor, frustrated daddy was just so"distraught" by the child and infant care that he was performing "24/7." Mothers would never get away with this excuse. It's just assumed that any woman should be able to take on these responsibilities and somehow manage without all the whining.
What happened to the mother of these babies? Why was she apparently not in the home? It's as if the babies had been personally delivered to Daddy by the stork. Why do reporters continuously erase mothers from these stories, as if no one ever gave birth to these children? Is she alive, dead, "missing" or what?
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Grieving+father+intend+harm+infant+defence+argues/8420967/story.html
Grieving father did not intend to harm infant son, defence argues
By Chloé Fedio, OTTAWA CITIZEN May 22, 2013
OTTAWA — A young father in mourning over the death of one twin son became so overwhelmed after the second twin was airlifted to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario that he squeezed the crying baby out of stress and broke his ribs, a Crown prosecutor argued at the man’s assault trial.
“(The man’s) frustration at that time and his depression and grieving over his other child became too much,” Donna Eastwood argued during closing statements in an Ottawa courtroom. “He could not cope. The baby was extremely irritable and difficult to settle.”
The man, 25, cannot be named due to a publication ban meant to protect the identity of his son. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing bodily harm.
Defence lawyer Sam Adam argued there’s “an innocent explanation” for the eight-week-old boy’s injuries.
“He did not intend to cause any harm to his son,” Adam said.
Despite the trial’s many witnesses — including a social worker, five nurses, a medical student, two experts and the accused who testified in his own defence — Adam argued that “we still don’t know exactly what happened.”
The Crown theorized that the baby’s 12 rib fractures were a result of being squeezed by his father on Jan. 29, 2011, and again two days later on Jan. 31 while the child was in hospital.
A nurse testified she heard the “high-pitched cry of a child” twice on Jan. 29 while his father was holding him. But Adam pointed out that she did not chart concerns, report abuse or notice that the child had any injuries afterward.
Further, experts did not say conclusively that the ribs were fractured on two separate occasions — just that the fractures were believed to have occurred between Jan. 25 and Feb. 3, Adam said. He also argued that experts testified the injuries were not necessarily caused by squeezing.
The father testified that on one occasion, the infant slipped out of his grasp and he lunged forward to grab him mid-air. On a second occasion, he said the boy suffered an apneic spell and that he administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation while he called out for a nurse to help. The “inexperienced, panicked father” used his palm, which could have crushed the ribs, Adam argued.
“He had already lost one son and was terrified to lose another,” Adam argued. “His evidence is, he felt he had to do it to save his son.”
But Eastwood pointed out that the nurse who entered the room did not see the man administer CPR. The nurse rubbed the baby’s back until breathing resumed.
The man’s “false story,” Eastwood argued, “ought not to be believed.”
Eastwood also argued that “it’s not realistic” that the man would have dropped his son because he “has lots of experience holding children.”
The man had been caring for “four children in diapers” when his five-week-old infant son died, Eastwood said.
“He’s essentially looking after those children 24/7 without a break,” she said.
Just 12 days later, the second twin was airlifted to CHEO from the Kashechewan First Nation near James Bay after coughing up blood.
Eastwood argued that the grieving father was “distressed, distraught and angry” during his time at CHEO, especially because there were rumours in his community that he had somehow contributed to his son’s death.
“Surely, it has to be more than a coincidence” that he intentionally applied force on two separate occasions, Eastwood said.
Adam countered that there’s an “air of reality” to the man’s version, which does not amount to child abuse.
“Essentially, what happened to him is not a crime,” Adam said.
A decision is expected on July 31.
Dad pleads guilty to assaulting infant daughter (Griffith, Australia)
UNNAMED DAD
http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/1523637/abused-baby-near-death-after-trauma/?cs=332
Abused baby near death after trauma
May 24, 2013, 8 a.m.
A BABY girl just nine months old suffered a cardiac arrest after receiving blunt force trauma to the chest possibly from a punch by her father, a District Court judge was told yesterday.
The Griffith girl was limp and had stopped breathing when her father rang an ambulance about 4.30pm on September 23 last year.
When the ambulance arrived, the child was blue and emergency treatment with CPR was administered in a frantic effort to save her.
The child had no pulse, was rushed to the Griffith Base Hospital and resuscitation efforts continued for 30 minutes until the girl’s heart rhythm returned to normal.
The father gave police two different versions of what happened to the child, claiming she had vomited after having food and stopped breathing.
But thorough investigations by medical staff after she was transferred to the Sydney Children’s Hospital intensive care unit revealed horrendous abuse had been inflicted on the child.
She had in the past suffered a total of 23 separate rib fractures, a fractured skull on the left side and fractured right hand.
A doctor believed the rib fractures had been caused by blunt force trauma or encirclement of the chest with squeezing, causing forceful compression of the chest wall on multiple occasions.
The father, now 33, appeared in the District Court at Albury yesterday and pleaded guilty to four counts of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.
Judge David Freeman was told police set up covert electronically recorded surveillance between the man and his partner in October.
He had in late September been interviewed by detectives and denied assaulting his daughter.
But on November 1, police attached to the State Crime Command child abuse squad went to the family’s home and advised the father of their covert surveillance.
He was arrested and took part in an electronic interview with his remarks throughout it being: “No comment”.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been remanded in custody since being charged.
Melbourne barrister Ian Crisp claimed yesterday the man’s actions have had significant impact and he is prepared to reform himself both in custody and when released.
Prosecutor Max Pincott said the true impact on the child will not be known for several years.
Judge Freeman adjourned the man’s sentencing until next week. – The Border Mail
http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/1523637/abused-baby-near-death-after-trauma/?cs=332
Abused baby near death after trauma
May 24, 2013, 8 a.m.
A BABY girl just nine months old suffered a cardiac arrest after receiving blunt force trauma to the chest possibly from a punch by her father, a District Court judge was told yesterday.
The Griffith girl was limp and had stopped breathing when her father rang an ambulance about 4.30pm on September 23 last year.
When the ambulance arrived, the child was blue and emergency treatment with CPR was administered in a frantic effort to save her.
The child had no pulse, was rushed to the Griffith Base Hospital and resuscitation efforts continued for 30 minutes until the girl’s heart rhythm returned to normal.
The father gave police two different versions of what happened to the child, claiming she had vomited after having food and stopped breathing.
But thorough investigations by medical staff after she was transferred to the Sydney Children’s Hospital intensive care unit revealed horrendous abuse had been inflicted on the child.
She had in the past suffered a total of 23 separate rib fractures, a fractured skull on the left side and fractured right hand.
A doctor believed the rib fractures had been caused by blunt force trauma or encirclement of the chest with squeezing, causing forceful compression of the chest wall on multiple occasions.
The father, now 33, appeared in the District Court at Albury yesterday and pleaded guilty to four counts of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.
Judge David Freeman was told police set up covert electronically recorded surveillance between the man and his partner in October.
He had in late September been interviewed by detectives and denied assaulting his daughter.
But on November 1, police attached to the State Crime Command child abuse squad went to the family’s home and advised the father of their covert surveillance.
He was arrested and took part in an electronic interview with his remarks throughout it being: “No comment”.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been remanded in custody since being charged.
Melbourne barrister Ian Crisp claimed yesterday the man’s actions have had significant impact and he is prepared to reform himself both in custody and when released.
Prosecutor Max Pincott said the true impact on the child will not be known for several years.
Judge Freeman adjourned the man’s sentencing until next week. – The Border Mail
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Dad arrested for sexually assaulting daughter (Bryan, Texas)
Dad is identified as MARTIN ANGEL ESPITIA. No mention of a mother in the home.
http://www.kbtx.com/news/local/headlines/Father-Arrested-for-Allegedly-Sexually-Assaulting-His-Own-Daughter-208664781.html
Father Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting His Own Daughter
By: KBTX Staff
Posted: Thu 11:03 AM, May 23, 2013
BRYAN
An investigation from January leads to the arrest of a father accused of sexually assaulting his daughter.
33-year-old Martin Angel Espitia was arrested overnight Thursday.
According to the investigators, the victim was his daughter. She was 11 when the assaults started.
She told investigators that it started out as touching and escalated. The victim never told anyone because she was scared.
Espitia denied the allegations. He was given the opportunity to take a polygraph, but refused.
He was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child and is being held in the Brazos County Jail under $50,000 bond
http://www.kbtx.com/news/local/headlines/Father-Arrested-for-Allegedly-Sexually-Assaulting-His-Own-Daughter-208664781.html
Father Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting His Own Daughter
By: KBTX Staff
Posted: Thu 11:03 AM, May 23, 2013
BRYAN
An investigation from January leads to the arrest of a father accused of sexually assaulting his daughter.
33-year-old Martin Angel Espitia was arrested overnight Thursday.
According to the investigators, the victim was his daughter. She was 11 when the assaults started.
She told investigators that it started out as touching and escalated. The victim never told anyone because she was scared.
Espitia denied the allegations. He was given the opportunity to take a polygraph, but refused.
He was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child and is being held in the Brazos County Jail under $50,000 bond
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