Adoptive single dad sentenced to life in death of 3-month-old son (Cheraw, South Carolina)

It appears that dad MITCHELL CHARLES RIVERS was a single guy who adopted his sister-in-law's baby--allegedly because she has a "mental disability" that would not allow her to care for the infant. I'm not sure what Rivers' IQ is, but this baby was only 3-months old when Daddy managed to "accidentally" roll over him while sleeping and suffocate him to death. At any rate, that's Daddy's story. And notice that this poor baby had healing injuries showing prior abuse, too. The letters say Daddy had a prior history of child abuse against a girlfriend's child. So what freaking geniuses approved this adoption?

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/feb/13/father-sentenced-life-death-his-son/

Father sentenced to life in death of his son
Sunday, February 13, 2011

CHERAW -- A Cheraw man has been sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicted him of killing his 3-month-old son.

The Florence Morning News reported that 33-year-old Mitchell Charles Rivers was convicted Friday of homicide by child abuse in the 2005 death of Mitchell Alexander Rivers.

Prosecutor Adam Michael Foard said the baby was the biological child of Rivers' sister-in-law, who could not care for the child because of a mental disability. Rivers then adopted the child.

Rivers told investigators that he had accidentally rolled over on the child while sleeping.

Prosecutors said the child died of asphyxiation, and an autopsy showed the baby had fresh and healing bruises on his head, as well as broken ribs.