Dad in jail charged with criminal abuse of a child; 3-month-old son has 11 broken ribs (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Dad CARL CRIDER has an extensive criminal history, including prior domestic abuse orders. It also seems that he has repeatedly abused his 3-month-old son, including several attempts at suffocations. The baby was found to have 11 broken ribs in various stages of healing.

At least in this case, nobody is saying what a "nice guy" daddy is.

http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/66202627.html

Updated: 10:30 PM Oct 26, 2009

Abused young child in stable condition
A three-month old infant is in the hospital, and his father is behind bars.
Posted: 7:35 PM Oct 26, 2009
Reporter: Marcus Conroy

The father of the boy, Carl Crider, was arrested and charged with criminal abuse of a child. The infant is in stable condition in a Knoxville hospital. But police say that judging by the injuries, Saturday was not the first time the infant was abused.

John Hackworth has lived in Cumberland all of his life. He says the neighborhood was pleasant and quiet, except for his new next door neighbors.

"Ever since they moved in, it's been constant drama. The screaming and the yelling," Hackworth said.

Hackworth says Crider seemed so hostile that he and his family never even talked to them.

"I never did meet them. They didn't seem to be very social people. I didn't even know they had a child to be honest with you," Hackworth said.

Hackworth says Crider, the child's mother Ashley Ealy, and their young son moved into the neighborhood a couple of months ago. Police say Ealy took her son to the hospital after a fight on Saturday.

Doctors there discovered multiple injuries.

"Several times there's been attempted suffocation. He had 11 broken ribs that were in the process of mending," Trooper Walt Meachum said.

Meachum says the repeated abuse this child suffered is alarming.

"We haven't had a case like this that is this severe in a little while," Meachum said.

Crider is in the Harlan County Detention Center. Meachum says any case like this is hard on everyone.

"Anybody that comes in contact and has to deal with a case like this, it gets pretty frustrating and it upsets you," Meachum said.

"I just don't understand how a father could get so upset at such a young child," Hackworth said.

Hackworth says all he can do is hope and pray for the young boy.

Police say Crider does have an extensive criminal record, including prior domestic abuse orders. He is being held on a $100,000 bond. The case will go before a grand jury in the next few months, and they will decide if he is indicted on these charges.