Newborn baby on life support; dad jailed on abuse charges (Evansville, Indiana)

Seems to be a lot of dastardly dads in Indiana today. Now we have dad PAUL KEMMERER JR., who saw fit to administer a "severe beating" to a newborn. Not surprisingly, Daddy also has a history of violence and death threats against the baby's mother. But Daddy claims he can't remember abusing the baby much, since he says he "blacks out" when he gets angry. Oh the poor dear....

http://www.wfie.com/story/13647239/epd-baby-on-life-support-dad-jailed-on-abuse-charges

EPD: Baby on life support, dad jailed on abuse charges
Posted: Dec 09, 2010 3:17 PM CST
Updated: Dec 09, 2010 3:38 PM CST
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Posted by Rachel Folz

EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - An Evansville newborn is on life support in Indianapolis after a severe beating last month.

Last Thursday, police were called to investigate after doctors at Riley Hospital for Children called CPS to tell them about the condition of a 2-month-old boy.

At the time, the child was on life support with shock, anemia, intra-abdominal hemorrhage, and splenic and renal failure, the affidavit said.

Doctors told police that the baby's injuries were extremely suspicious and most likely not accidental.

Police say the baby's mom, Amanda Chenault, wouldn't tell them how the injuries happened.

Police said in their affidavit that Chenault showed no emotion when they discussed the severity of the infant's injuries.

Later, police say Chenault admitted that her boyfriend, Paul Kemmerer, Jr. had beat her.

The next day, police went to the couple's home in 1600 block of South Evans to talk to the baby's father, Kemmerer.

Evansville police said in a report that Kemmerer denied ever hurting the baby or Chenault.

On Monday, police met again with the baby's mother, Chenault. Chenault told police the Kemmerer had threatened to kill her in the past and had once tried to hurt the baby while she was pregnant.

On Tuesday, police went back to speak with Kemmerer.

Kemmerer agreed to take a polygraph test; officials say that test showed he was lying.

He then told police that the baby might have gotten hurt when he pushed Chenault down on a bed that the baby was lying on. He told police that there were several other times where the child may have gotten hurt and that he blacks out when he's angry.

Police booked Kemmerer in jail on a domestic battery charge.

Then on Wednesday, police say they went to the jail to speak with him again.

According to the report, he admitted that he'd gotten into a fight with Chenault a day or two before Thanksgiving.

FROM THE POLICE REPORT:

"He said he was arguing with Amanda about something.

He said he went over to her and put his foot on her and ground his foot onto hers.

He said at this time he was enraged. He said he went to another room and came back to where Amanda was.

He said Amanda was standing up, holding the child. He said she made a smart comment and he became more enraged.

He said he turned and saw her laughing. He said he went to push Amanda. He missed and got the child in the side.

He said he pushed hard enough that he fell forward and it knocked Amanda down to the couch.

He said the whole time Amanda was holding the child. He said he then left the house.

This was the most emotion Kemmerer had showed in the past week."

Kemmerer is in the Vanderburgh County jail on two charges, child neglect resulting in serious bodily injury and battery resulting in serious injury.