Dad charged with 2nd-degree murder in death of 3-month-old daughter (Wassaic, New York)

Dad WILLIAM TATE JR. has been arrested and charged with 2nd-degree murder in the blunt force trauma death of his 3-month-old daughter. Not a word on the mother (though Dad's other "family members" are mentioned.) It's as if she doesn't exist.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100208/NEWS05/2080321

Police to hold news conference on probe of 3-month-old's death
Rasheed Oluwa • Poughkeepsie Journal • February 8, 2010

WASSAIC — Police officials are to release more details today on the death of a 3-month-old Town of Amenia girl.

The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office has scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. in the City of Poughkeepsie to provide an update on its investigation into the death of Reese Tate.

The child's father, William Tate Jr., 29, of Wassaic, was arrested Friday on a charge of second-degree murder, a felony, under the depraved-indifference section of the law, police said.

Reese Tate suffered blunt force trauma late Wednesday, police said.

She died early Thursday from extensive internal injuries at Sharon (Conn.) Hospital, police said.

Deputy T.J. Hanlon, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, said 911 wasn't called at the time of the injury and that deputies were made aware of the incident by hospital officials.

Hanlon said the girl was the only child living with Tate at the time of the incident.

Hanlon would not comment on how the girl was transported to the hospital.

He also did not say if any abuse or domestic violence complaints had been issued against Tate in the past.

"We'll be able to answer a lot more of those details during the press conference," Hanlon said.

Tate was arraigned Friday before Amenia Town Justice Norman Moore. He was being held in Dutchess County Jail without bail.

His next court date is Wednesday.

Tate's family members, reached Sunday at their home in Wassaic, declined to comment.