UPDATE: Custodial dad held on $1M bail in baby's death; arrested for 2nd-degree murder (Bellingham, Washington)

We posted on this case yesterday. Dad had become a single dad only 1 DAY before he apparently swung his 2-month-old son by the leg and struck the baby's head against something hard (the mom had gone to jail on a robbery charge--charming couple, I'm sure). The autopsy found that the baby had a broken femur and died from a massive blunt-force trauma to the head. The murder took place despite "lots of family support" for helping the newly single dad out--not that that means squat.

In addition, this dad not only didn't contact an ambulance after the baby was injured, he actually tried to hide the body near the mother's ex-boyfriend's house in an attempt to set him up. Slick move, Dad.

We also find out now that Dad had SEVEN prior felony convictions and SEVEN failures to appear in court.

Despite all the predictable blathering from Dad's family on what a "great parent" he was, it seems to me that this baby was doomed as soon as Dad got custody. Very sad. And outrageous.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/20655513/detail.html

Father Held On $1M Bail In Baby's Death
Posted: 3:55 pm PDT August 31, 2009
Updated: 6:13 pm PDT August 31, 2009

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The father who claimed his 2-month-old baby boy mysteriously vanished was ordered held Monday on $1 million bail on suspicion of second-degree murder and felony assault in connection with the infant's death, authorities in Whatcom County said.

An autopsy showed Jon Cecil Anthony Frazier suffered a broken femur and massive blunt force trauma to his head, according to court documents citing findings from the Whatcom County Medical Examiner's office.

SLIDESHOW: Investigators Scour 2 Scenes

The autopsy indicated the baby was swung by his leg and struck something, contradicting his father's claim that he accidentally rolled over the child while the two slept, according to the documents.

The father, 42-year-old Jonathan V. Frazier, placed the baby near a home belonging to an ex-boyfriend of the child's mother in hopes police would finger the ex-boyfriend, according to prosecutors.

Frazier is scheduled for arraignment a week from Friday.

Frazier has seven prior felony convictions and seven failures to appear in court.

Frazier first told deputies that he put the boy to bed Thursday night and awoke Friday to find him missing.

Investigators said the story didn't made sense.

"I think it's safe to assume it involves criminal activity, and that's why it was investigated. Any plausible or reasonable satisfactory answer for the child's disappearance was not apparent," Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo said.

For three days, hundreds of searchers looked for the baby, until the child's body was found in a wooded area about three miles from his home.

Investigators would not say who told them the baby's body was hidden, but they said Frazier is cooperating with the investigation and answering questions.

The baby's mother was never questioned about the case because she checked in to serve a prison sentence for robbery the day before Cecil was reported missing.

Relatives called both great parents.

"I've seen them interact with him. Both parents did a great job with baby Cecil. They really did," said Don Kleindel, a relative of the family.

Relatives said the baby's father had lots of family support.

"He had plenty of help to raise little Baby Cecil. In fact, the grandparents had already been talking about which days and so forth to watch the baby and very supportive of Vince in raising the child by himself," said Kleindel.

A spokesperson for the baby's family said Monday, "We continue to rely on God’s strength and His grace to help us during this time of sorrow. Our faith remains strong even with so many unanswered questions. We will put our love and support into the family as we make arrangements for the funeral and the grieving period that will follow. Thank you for all your prayers and support."