Dad accused of abusing 3-month-old son; baby in critical condition (Senoia, Georgia)

Dad CHRISTOPHER BRETT LOREN has been charged with physically abusing his 3-month-old son, who is in critical condition. Dad was supposed to be babysitting as Mom was at work at the time of the incident, and she later called police about her suspicions.

The local police department just can't bring themselves to say that Dad has abused mom before--so we just say confusing things like responding to the residence in the past over "domestic issues" (domestic issues--like how to iron a shirt?).

Or how about this? "There's a history with the sheriff's office involving those two." That tells us absolutely nothing. If a burglar breaks into my home a couple of times, would that also constitute "a history with the sheriff's office" between the burglar and myself?

http://www.times-herald.com/local/Father-accused-of-abusing-3-month-old-830977

Published Saturday, August 15, 2009 in Local
Father accused of abusing 3-month-old
By Elizabeth Richardson
The Times-Herald

Christopher Brett Loren, 25, of Meadows Drive in Senoia, has been arrested and charged with aggravated battery, one count of first degree child cruelty and one count second degree child cruelty, according to Coweta Sheriff's authorities.

Loren is accused of physically abusing his 3-month-old son on at least three occasions between Aug. 3 and Aug. 12, causing the child to be hospitalized, said Lt. John Lewis of the Coweta County Sheriff's Office.

The infant was listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.

Wednesday night, Loren reportedly called a relative to report that the baby had vomited and wasn't opening his eyes, according to Lewis. He reportedly told the relative that the baby also had a large bruise on his back, and that he didn't know where it came from. When the relative got to the home, she immediately decided it was an emergency situation, and Loren drove his infant son to Piedmont Newnan Hospital, according to investigators.

According to Lewis, the infant's mother -- who was at work at the time -- immediately contacted police to report her suspicions that Loren had been physically abusing their son. She had noticed unexplained bruising on the baby.

The victim was taken by helicopter ambulance to the Atlanta hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain caused by severe bleeding, according to Lewis.

"The first 72 hours will determine what kind of brain damage, if any, he will have," said Lewis. "He's shown some improvement, but we don't know how much damage was done."

The Coweta Department of Family and Children's Services was notified of the incident. A second child in the home -- an 18-month-old -- was taken into DFCS custody pending the police investigation.

"We have no evidence that the other child has been abused," said Lewis. He added that sheriff's deputies have responded to Loren's residence in the past regarding domestic issues.

"There's a history with the sheriff's office involving those two," said Lewis.