Custodial dad convicted of voluntary manslaughter in death of 6-week-old son (Stafford County, Virginia)

What the hell is going on here? Why did dad JASON W. ANDREE have custody of a 6-week-old infant? Given that this baby had rib fractures that were at least one to two weeks old, it's quite clear that this baby was literally abused from birth. Were these injuries inflicted by the father too? And who decided it was okay for a father who was a CONVICTED FELON with an illegal gun and who was obviously a drug dealer to have custody? No names are given here, obviously. But did these idiots really expect any results other than the ones we have here? Of course this would come to no good end. Anybody with any sense could have predicted this outcome.

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT: How and why did the mother lose custody of a newborn to a father like this? Why isn't the fact that this baby must have had a mother acknowleged in the slightest? As far as I'm concerned, reporter Tom Jackman basically dances around the big elephant in the room, and never manages to ask--much less answer--the real questions.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/stafford/father-sentenced-to-six-years.html

Father gets 6 years in baby's death

A Stafford County man who pleaded guilty to shaking his 6-week-old son to death has been sentenced to six years in prison for voluntary manslaughter.

Baby Marcus Andre lived in Stafford with his father, Jason W. Andre, who called 911 on June 29, 2009, to report his son was having trouble breathing. Marcus was flown to the pediatric intensive care unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital, where prosecutors said he had suffered severe brain injury and was "brain dead upon arrival."

Marcus had brain hemorrhages and retinal hemorrhages, key indicators of shaken baby syndrome, Stafford Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Eric L. Olsen said. He also had rib fractures from a week or two earlier, bruises on his right shoulder and buttocks, a flattening on his head and a spinal cord injury, Olsen said.

When police searched Andre's home, they found a gun and the beginnings of a marijuana growing operation. He was indicted in August on charges of murder, malicious wounding and child neglect. In March, Andre pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter as well as child abuse and possession of a firearm by a felon.

At Andre's sentencing Monday in Stafford Circuit Court, Judge Charles Sharp sentenced Andre to 20 total years in prison, but suspended 14 of those years, court records show. He imposed the maximum 10-year sentence for manslaughter, but suspended six of those years. He imposed a five-year sentence for possession of a gun, and suspended three of those years. He imposed a five-year sentence for child abuse and suspended all of that time.

-- Tom Jackman