Dad arrested for killing 2-month-old; 8 of the baby's ribs were fractured (Travis County, Texas)

Dad CHRISTOPHER C. MCDONALD JR. has been arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the death of his 2-month-old son. Dad apparently "squeezed" the child, breaking 8 of his ribs. The baby died of positional asphyxiation after being left face-down on a pillow. Dad says he was "frustrated" because he couldn't find work.

I suspect this means that Dad was at home every day while the mother was working. Another example of a young dad who should not have been a primary caretaker. This kind of case illustrates just why child abuse escalates during a recession. It's not "economic woes" per se; it's certain fathers called to do child care that they are not emotionally equipped to do.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/index.html

Father accused of squeezing baby who later died
By Tony Plohetski Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 03:39 PM

Authorities have arrested a man who is accused of squeezing his 2-month-old son, fracturing eight of his ribs, because of frustration at his inability to find a job, according to an arrest affidavit.

Travis County deputies were called to an apartment at 19600 N. Heatherwilde Blvd. on July 10 to assist EMS personnel on a call of a child who was unconscious and not breathing, an arrest affidavit said.

The child was found face-down in the crease of a pillow in the living room of the family’s home, it said.

The child was taken to Dell Children’s Medical Center, the affidavit said, where he died of “positional asphyxiation,” which occurs when a person’s position hinders them from breathing.

The affidavit said that the fractured ribs were not the cause of his death but showed up on an X-Ray at Dell Children’s Medical Center when the infant was being treated. The medical examiner determined that the injuries were more than two weeks old, the affidavit said.

Christopher C. McDonald Jr., 25, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony for which he faces up to 20 years in prison. He remains at the Travis County Jail with bail set at $75,000.

The document said that McDonald told an investigator with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services that while his son was in his care in late May, he “squeezed his body with his hands. He stated he did this out of frustration because he couldn’t find work and provide for his family,” it said.

Sheriff’s spokesman Roger Wade said the case “is horrendous.”