Dad "suspect" in death of 4-month-old son; admits he threw baby into the wall (Jefferson, Wisconsin)

Dad MICHAEL F. WEY is technically a "suspect" in the death of his 4-month-old son. He admitted to police, though, that he threw the baby into the wall after he'd been drinking. The baby sustained several skull fractures in the assault, and later died at the hospital.

http://www.wdtimes.com/articles/2009/08/28/news/news4.txt

Abuse suspected in 4-month-old's death

Friday, August 28, 2009 1:59 PM CDT


JEFFERSON -A 30-year-old Lake Mills man may be charged with homicide after his 4-month-old son died last week due to head injuries allegedly caused by the father.

Michael F. Wey, 855 E. Lake St., Lot 25, is scheduled to appear in Jefferson County Court Thursday for a preliminary hearing on physical abuse of a child. He was charged with the offense Aug. 17 as his son was reported in critical condition at American Family Children's Hospital in Madison.

The boy, Nikolai Wey, died at the hospital Friday, Aug. 21. He was born April 1 at Fort Memorial Hospital, the son of Michael and Eliana Wey of Lake Mills.

Michael Wey is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on $50,000 cash bond. Because the child died, amended charges may be filed.

According to the criminal complaint on the child abuse charge, Michael Wey came home from drinking at about 10 p.m. on Aug. 14. He allegedly picked up the boy by one leg and, placing his other hand on the child's chest, threw him into a wall. There was enough force to cause cracks in the wall. The child then fell into the crib.

Upon questioning, Michael Wey told detectives two different reasons for the injuries his son sustained before admitting he had thrown the child against the wall.

Originally, Michael Wey said he had diarrhea and had hurried to the bathroom, leaving the infant lying on a corner of a bed. He said while he was in the bathroom, he had heard a thump and when he came back into the room, the child was laying on the floor crying.

The father said he had calmed the child and put him in the crib, and he went to sleep himself. Wey told officer the cracks above the crib were caused when he had hit the wall.

But the injuries the child sustained did not match the description of the fall, according to the complaint. The child had sustained numerous skull fractures and were not consistent with a fall from a bed.

Wey told medical personnel at Fort Memorial Hospital the child was sick.

When Wey was confronted with the information that his version of what occurred was not consistent with the injuries, Wey said he was playing with the infant, threw him into the air at one point and dropped him on his head. Again, the story was not consistent with the injuries and Wey finally said he had thrown the infant against the wall.

During the three hours before his wife came home, the father said he was “freaking out” and observed the child having a seizure.

On the child abuse charge, Wey faces up to 40 years in prison. If he is charged with homicide, he could face up to life in prison.