Unemployed "caretaker" dad charged with abusing 7-week-old baby (Charleston, West Virginia)

Once again, we have a drug-addicted deadbeat daddy who was playing at "caretaker" while Mom had to work. And once again, we have a daddy whose brain was so addled with "pain medication" that he shook this poor newborn for crying and not eating on demand. But get this. Daddy IAN KESSINGER wants to make it up to the baby. Too late for that, pal.

One bright side in all this. You don't have the usual idiots saying how he was really a Great Dad and all that happy horse patootie. In fact, Grandpa says that Daddy "has nothing to offer society but heartbreak." Amen, brother. Thanks for a little honesty in advertising.

I'm starting to think we need a return to old-fashioned welfare, so moms can deep six dudes like this instead of having to work and rely on social misfit sperm donors for infant caretaking. At least more babies would survive their infancy.

http://www.dailymail.com/News/201102090846

Wednesday February 9, 2011
Father charged with abuse of baby
Doctor visit shows infant's skull fractured, collarbone, wrist broken
by Paul Fallon
Daily Mail Staff
Charleston Daily Mail

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Nitro man is accused of shaking his 7-week-old baby with such force it fractured the little boy's cranium, clavicle and wrist and caused internal bleeding.

The baby, Benjamin Kessinger, was hospitalized Monday at Charleston Area Medical Center's Women and Children's Hospital.

The baby's father, Ian Kessinger, 30, was arrested Wednesday on charges of child abuse resulting in serious injuries.

"I'd like to see him go to jail for a long time," said the little boy's grandfather, John Sayre, 66, of Dunbar. "He has nothing to offer society but heartache."

Sayre added, "I think he's worthless, but I never would have thought he would have done anything like this."

The baby had been taken to a routine checkup at a local doctor's office when the pediatrician noticed the infant's head was larger than normal, said Lt. Sean Crosier of the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department. Crosier did not know who took the baby to the doctor.

The pediatrician ordered additional tests and the child was taken to CAMC Women's and Children's Hospital, Crosier said.

"That's how they discovered the head injuries and the other injuries," Crosier said.

Kessinger is accused of abusing his son on multiple occasions and fracturing the infant's skull, according to the criminal complaint filed in the Kanawha County Magistrate's Office. Other injuries include a broken collarbone and broken bones in the left wrist, according to the complaint.

While being escorted from the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department to the magistrate's office on Wednesday, Kessinger said he was "sorry" and that it was the "worst thing I've ever done."

"If I could, I'd take it back," Kessinger said.

According to the criminal complaint, Kessinger told officers he lost his temper with the infant because he wouldn't stop crying and would not eat. Kessinger also told officers he shook the baby and jerked the infant out of bed without supporting his neck.

"Times were stressful, and I got frustrated," Kessinger said while he was being escorted to the magistrate's office.

Kessinger blamed the frustration on a drug problem; saying that he was addicted to pain medication and often did "anything I can get my hands on."

"I have a problem and I need help," he said.

"I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to him," Kessinger said. "I'll try to make it up to him."

Crosier called the injuries serious and life threatening. John Sayre said he had been in contact with hospital staff and the child seemed to be recovering well. He has also visited the baby on numerous occasions, he said.

"It's hard to tell what that little fellow has went through," Sayre said. "We'd like everyone to say a little prayer for Ben."

His daughter, Emily Sayre, 31, of Nitro, is the baby's mother.

"Emily is very upset," he said. "She can't believe this happened."

The mother has not been charged in the case and police say they do not suspect her of abuse. She and Kessinger have been together about four years and live together.

The couple also has a 2-year-old daughter. The little girl is currently staying with her grandparents at their Dunbar home.

"We're the primary caregivers right now," Sayre said. "She seems to be OK, but she doesn't really know what's going on.

"She is missing her mom because she's been at the hospital with the baby," Sayre said.

Kessinger appeared before Kanawha County Magistrate Joe Shelton Wednesday. Shelton set Kessinger's bond at $75,000 cash. Kessinger asked that the court appoint an attorney to represent him.

Kessinger also said he was currently unemployed. Along with the infant and the 2-year-old daughter, he has two other children who do not live with him, he said.

Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants called the situation a "tragic case."

"Kids are just so innocent," he said. "They're so helpless."

Kessinger faces two to 10 years in a state penitentiary, Shelton said. His preliminary hearing is 1:30 p.m. Feb. 17.

Contact writer Paul Fallon at paul.fal...@dailymail.com or 304-348-4817.