Dad charged with child abuse against 8-month-old daughter (Cookville, Tennessee)

Dad JUSTIN KANE HANKES has been charged with aggravated child abuse after his 8-month-old daughter was hospitalized with a skull fracture. Notice that Daddy and other unnamed "relatives" took the baby to the hospital--but there is no specific mention of the mother. Why?

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT.

http://www.herald-citizen.com/view/full_story/12343229/article-Father-charged-with-child-abuse?instance=latest_articles

Father charged with child abuse
by Mary Jo Denton Herald Citizen
1 day 19 hrs ago

COOKEVILLE -- A man who brought his baby daughter to the hospital last year due to a head injury has now been accused of causing that injury, police said.

Justin Kane Hankes, 20, of Gainesboro Grade, Cookeville, was recently indicted by the Putnam grand jury on a charge of aggravated child abuse in the case, according to court records.

He was arrested on Friday and booked into the Putnam jail on a $100,000 bond.

The indictment, which is based on an investigation by Cookeville Police Detective Sgt. Bobby Anderson, alleges that on or about November 11, 2010, Hankes "inflicted serious bodily injury" on the child.

Detective Lt. Carl Sells and Detective Sgt. Anderson said the alleged victim is Hankes' daughter, who was eight months old at the time of the injury.

They said Hankes and other relatives brought the baby to the hospital and said the baby was then transferred to a Nashville hospital where it was determined that the baby had suffered a skull fracture.

Allegedly, the father denied any wrongdoing and said the baby had taken a fall, the detectives said.

The child survived the injury, Detective Anderson said.

The indictment was served on Hankes by Officer Mark Loftis.

He is to be arraigned in Criminal Court on March 22.