Dad ordered to stand trial for abuse of infant daughter, 6-year-old stepdaughter (Lawrence, Kansas)

Sometimes you'll hear fathers rights apologists try to make some big belabored distinction between "mom's boyfriend" (the epitome of scum) and the natural father (the epitome of goodness and light). In reality, the lines aren't so finely drawn. As I've said before, if you're scum you're scum. You don't necessarily exclude those you share DNA with from your personal abuse.

And it sure appears that dad BRADLEY W. FORD is an equal opportunity abuser. Yea, real devoted daddy, this one. He threw his 6-week-old infant daughter because she was crying. The baby developed brain injuries and bone fractures as a result. And it wasn't the first time Daddy abused the baby either, given that some of the injuries were older. Basically, this sh** abused the baby from birth.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/oct/22/lawrence-man-ordered-stand-trial-child-abuse-charg/

Friday, October 22, 2010
Lawrence man ordered to stand trial on child abuse charges
By George Diepenbrock

October 22, 2010

Douglas County District Judge Michael Malone Friday ordered a 29-year-old Lawrence man to stand trial on allegations he abused his infant daughter and 6-year-old stepdaughter.

Malone made the ruling after hearing testimony from a pediatric nurse practitioner and investigators about injuries to the two children who lived in the home with defendant Bradley W. Ford in the 200 block of Pinecone Drive.

“He said that when he threw her onto the bed that she bounced off and fell onto the floor,” Lawrence police officer Mark Unruh testified about a September interview with Ford.

Unruh said Ford told him he became frustrated the night of Sept. 24 when his 6-week-old daughter was crying and threw her onto the bed. Unruh made an underhand throwing motion to demonstrate.

Unruh said Ford changed his story several times. Ford initially told police the baby was crying so he brought her into bed with him and his wife, the child’s mother. But police later determined the man’s wife was visiting a friend and not home at the time.

Ford later told officers he put the baby near the foot of the bed, went into the bathroom and she was on the floor when he returned. He also said he accidentally dropped her before he described throwing her onto the bed, Unruh said.

Police were called by medical personnel Sept. 25 to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., where the infant was being treated for injuries.

Amy Terreros, a pediatric nurse practitioner, testified the infant had several bruises, a subdural hematoma or bleeding on her brain, and fractures on her right arm, left leg and several ribs. The rib fractures appeared to be both old and new, Terreros said.

The infant was released from the hospital Sept. 27.

During an interview, Ford had told police he became frustrated on Sept. 20 when the infant was crying and squeezed her when he pulled her out of her chair.

Ford faces a charge of aggravated battery and child abuse for the infant’s injuries. He faces a second count of child abuse for injuries his 6-year-old stepdaughter suffered. Prosecutors allege Ford choked her on Sept. 22.

Police recorded an interview a social worker conducted with the stepdaughter.

Ford, who remains in jail on $100,000 bond, lived in the town house with his wife, who was the mother of three children and also lived there. Ford was only the father of the infant.

During questioning from defense attorney Elbridge Griffy, Unruh said Ford “stated multiple times that he was sorry.” On Sept. 26 Ford agreed to go through the town house with officers and described the incidents in the kitchen and bedroom.

“It did appear to me that Brad was really thinking hard and trying to come up with just any incident that he could recall that might have been related to those allegations, would that be your feeling?” Griffy asked Unruh.

“I believe yes,” Unruh said. “I think he was trying to recall what had occurred, yes.”

Malone scheduled Ford’s jury trial for Jan. 3.