Thursday, November 5, 2009

"Primary caregiver" dad arrested for fracturing infant daughter's skull, ribs, leg (Loxahatchee, Florida)

"Primary caregiver" dad HIPOLITO FRAGUELA is facing two counts of aggravated child abuse after his 3-month-old daughter was found to have suffered a fractured skull, fractured ribs, and a fractured leg while under his "care." Dad's attempt at an explanation would almost be humorous for how pathetic it is, except for the fact that a baby was seriously injured as a result. But given that Dad's a convicted felon, I suppose he's not a real nurturing kind of guy. It's sickening that we even pretend that a guy like this can be a legitimate caregiver of an infant.

http://www.wptv.com/content/news/centralpbc/loxahatchee_acreage/story/Baby-suffers-fractured-skull-father-arrested/UQBhb8a9mUWssJS1I339SQ.cspx

Baby suffers fractured skull, father arrested
Last Update: 1:25 pm

LOXAHATCHEE, FL--A Loxahatchee man is facing two counts of aggravated child abuse after his infant daughter was found to have a fractured skull, fractured ribs and a fractured leg.

Deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office responded out to St. Mary's Medical Center on October 29th in reference to a three month old child with a possible head injury. There they met with the child's mother and Hipolito Fraguela, the child's father and primary caregiver.

Fraguela told investigators that he and his girlfriend noticed the child's eyes were abnormal and kept crossing. They took the child to the family pediatrician. The pediatrician told them to take the child to the hospital after noticing the baby may have a fractured skull.

Hipolito Fraguela originally told investigators that his 16-month-old son had thrown a can of ravioli at his infant daughter's head but investigators said the injuries suffered by the child were inconsistent with Fraguela's story.

Fraguela then changed his story and told investigators that he had dropped the baby during the child's bath. He then told them that when he went to pick the baby up, he accidentally stepped on the baby's leg. When investigators asked about the baby's fractured ribs, Fraguela said he had performed CPR on the baby when she began choking.

A search of Fraguela's home also resulted in a separate charge of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon after deputies found an unsecured, loaded 22 caliber rifle on the living room floor.