Dad, girlfriend charged with murder in death of 3-year-old son; toddler died during out-of-state summer visitation (Tampa, Florida)

We've posted on this case several times over the past few months. Notice that this poor child was subject to an out-of-state summer visitation agreement, which required him to leave Mom in Missouri and visit with Daddy in Florida. So Daddy JUSTIN GARWACKI picked up the toddler on June 28, 2010, and began to brutalize the boy almost immediately. By August, the little boy was dead. Children--especially vulnerable preschoolers--need this... just to brag that they have two parents?

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/feb/03/031445/dad-girlfriend-charged-with-murder-in-toddlers-dea/news-breaking/

Search: Thursday, February 3, 2011
Dad, girlfriend charged with murder in toddler's death
By JOSH POLTILOVE The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 3, 2011

Updated: 05:57 pm

TAMPA - Almost six months after the death of a 3-year-old boy, the child's father and the man's girlfriend have been charged with murder.

John Taylor Baxley died Aug. 10. Investigators said the toddler had bruising on his body, a bite mark on his right calf and a possible broken arm.

An autopsy ruled his death was a homicide.

The boy's father, Justin Garwacki, initially was arrested in August on charges of aggravated child abuse and child neglect. Garwacki's girlfriend, Kara O'Connell, faced the same charges.

Garwacki, 26, and O'Connell, 21, were indicted today on one count each of first-degree murder, prosecutors said. Both remained in jail.

Investigators were awaiting the autopsy results before seeking murder charges, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

The autopsy showed Garwacki and O'Connell contributed to the child's death and that the injuries were inflicted over a long period of time, Carter said. The injuries also were inconsistent with the explanations provided by Garwacki and O'Connell.

On the day his son died, investigators said, Garwacki had struck him several times and pulled a chair out from under him, causing the boy to strike the floor with a thud.

O'Connell said she also struck the boy's face and body and once lifted him by his throat because he wouldn't listen to her, investigators said.

Hillsborough County deputies said Garwacki and O'Connell had been responsible for the child's welfare since June 28. Garwacki had picked up his son from Missouri, where the boy's mother lives