6-week-old baby has his bones broken while visiting Dad and his new wife (Elton, Missouri)

While visiting his Dad (or perhaps Dad had custody, it's not clear), this 6-week-old baby suffered 4 broken ribs, 2 broken legs, and a broken left arm. It seems that Daddy and Daddy's new wife (not the mother) did the damage. But why was an infant this young not with his mom? A baby this little doesn't need visitation with Daddy. The baby has nothing to gain by being passed around like a hot potato. This assault was utterly preventable and avoidable. I wonder if some judge ordered this visitation scheme? Or whether it was just the mother succumbing to "a child needs a father" propaganda? Obviously this visitation idea was ridiculous either way, because the father clearly had no real commitment to the mother or to the infant, especially an infant that was this young. Could be wrong, but I'm guessing that this whole thing was a ploy to keep Daddy's child support down.

http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/story.aspx?id=389751

Eldon child abuse suspect due in court today
Monday, December 14, 2009 at 5:14 a.m.

MILLER COUNTY -- An Eldon woman accused of child abuse after her husband's infant son was found with broken bones is set to appear in court today.

Jessica Blood, 22, faces one count each of felony child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. Her husband's six-week-old son was brought to the hospital Oct. 1.

Doctors found the infant had four broken ribs, two broken legs, and a broken left arm.

The baby's biological father, Christopher Blood, 35, faces four counts of felony child abuse.

Miller county authorities say the couple confessed to gripping the infant's chest and back area tightly because the baby would not stop crying.

Jessica blood has a preliminary hearing scheduled for January in Miller County court.