Dad "punishes" 3-year-old son for soiling pants; child dies (Port Arthur, Texas)

Dad JAKARI CROUT says he was "punishing" his 3-year-old son for soiling his pants. Apparently the "punishment" was enough to stop the child from breathing, and the child died. There are actually a fair number of cases of male caretakers who abuse children around dirty diaper/potty-training issues.

http://www.kbmt12.com/news/local/57273582.html

Father Punishes 3-Year-Old For Soiling Pants; Child Dies
David Ingram
Bryan Rupp

Story Created: Sep 4, 2009 at 10:47 AM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 4, 2009 at 11:35 PM CDT

Murder charges could soon be filed against the father of a 3-year-old Port Arthur boy who died Thursday night.

KBMT 12 News Brian Burns tells us police say the death is expected to be declared a homicide once autopsy results are in.

It's a quiet neighborhood where residents say not much happens not until Thursday night when the parents of 3-year-old Jayden Crout took him to Christus St. Mary's Hospital after he stopped breathing.

Investigators say the father, identified as 25-year old Jakari Crout, told officers he was punishing the child for soiling his pants.

While officers are not saying what the punishment was it was apparently enough to result in the boy to stop breathing.

"He told us he was punishing the boy. and we think the death is suspicious" said Port Arthur Police Department Major Raymond Clark.

Some neighbors we talked to were surprised, others had heard of problems here. But police say they have a ways to go before calling it a homicide.

Jayden was pronounced dead at the hospital by Justice of the Peace Tom Gillam. Gillam told KBMT 12 News he will not release the results of the autopsy until police conclude their investigation.

Several neighbors say the young family who had four children seemed to be a nice quiet family.

"I would wave at him and he'd wave back a few times" said one neighbor.

Others told of police being called to the home in the past couple of weeks because of a man and woman arguing in the front yard.

"The police came. They'd been fighting. Police been here a couple of times" added another neighbor.

In Port Arthur, Brian Burns KBMT 12 News

Child Protective Services says they are investigating and plan to place the other three children with relatives.

The children are ages six months, 1-year-old and 2-years-old.

Police say the father has no prior criminal record and CPS says they have no complaints on record.

Previous story version from early Friday, September 4, 2009:

Port Arthur police say the death of a 3-year-old could result in murder charges against the victim's father.

Jayden Crout, who lived in a house on 19th Street, was taken to Christus St. Mary's hospital and pronounced dead Thursday afternoon.

Police say the father identified as 25-year-old Jaycor Crout told investigators he was punishing the child for soiling his pants when the child stopped breathing.

Police say investigators have ruled the death as suspicious and are waiting for autopsy results before filing criminal charges.

According to a news release issued by the Department Friday morning, officers were called to Christus Hospital St. Mary Thursday evening where a child was brought to the E.R. in distress.