Caretaking dad convicted of reckless homicide in death of 4-month-old son (Beech Grove, Indiana)

Caretaking dad WILLIAM K. FOSTER has been sentenced to 20 years for neglect and reckless homicide in the death of his four-month-old son. It appears that the baby was shaken and suffered severe brain damage as a result. Dad was the only adult at home at the time, but has said little as to what happened--only that he "found" the baby unconscious. The baby was later removed from life support in May 2008, and subsequently died.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20090701/NEWS02/90701044/Father+gets+20+years+in+infant+s+death

Father gets 20 years in infant's death

By Jon Murray
Posted: July 1, 2009

A judge today gave a Beech Grove man convicted of fatally injuring his infant son a 20-year sentence, with the time split between prison and community corrections.

William K. Foster, 31, was convicted of neglect and reckless homicide by a Marion Superior Court jury in April but was acquitted on murder and battery charges. Today Judge Carol Orbison gave him 16 years in prison and another four in community corrections programs. The total sentence was 30 years, with 10 years suspended.

It's still unclear what caused the injuries to his 4-month-old son, William D. Foster, in July 2007. Foster shed little light today.The elder Foster was the only adult home for about four hours before he reported finding the infant facedown in his crib, unconscious. The child survived 10 months in a hospital until a judge ordered life support removed in May 2008.

Prosecution witnesses testified that shaking could have caused the boy's brain injuries.

"Something broke, something snapped, something happened," Orbison said. "And I don't know whether that is in the realm of anybody but Mr. Foster to understand."

Deputy Prosecutor Cynthia Oetjen had requested 40 years in prison. Foster and his attorney, Michael Day, asked for leniency.

"Family means everything to me, your honor," Foster said before he learned his sentence. He said he would like to use his teaching and counseling skills to help others after his release.