Wife fearful of "primary caretaker" dad who battered her, infant son (Jacksonville, North Carolina)

Notice that dad BRANDON TODD GRAVITT was a "primary caretaker" at the time that his infant son was battered. And that his wife's wishes in this matter were probably not much respected, given that he battered her as well. The idea that mothers and fathers are the same in every way has been totally oversold. These "Mr. Mom" types are often not the gentle, nurturing creatures we've been told they are. In many cases, these guys end up at home by default, because Mom's short maternity leave (IF she had one) is done, and she must return to work. In many other cases, the dads were unemployed (or unemployable) from the beginning. These deadbeat dads are often short-tempered men who can't keep a job, and can't handle the demands of infant care either. And we are seeing the carnage from that again and again.

Notice that the father also engaged in animal abuse. A very common phenomenon.

http://www.jdnews.com/news/-90419--.html

Wife fearful of husband who abused infant sonApril 24, 2011 3:14 AM
LINDELL KAY and MIKE MCHUGH

An estranged wife said she is terrified of her husband who recently pleaded no contest to a charge of abusing their infant son and is accused of killing the family dog.

Leslie Gravitt told The Daily News the day after her husband, Brandon Todd Gravitt, was sentenced earlier this month to two to three years in prison that she was convinced her husband would find her and kill her when he was released.

Brandon Gravitt, 23, was originally charged by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office with child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and assault on a child under 12.

His son, Lucian David Gravitt, suffered a left rib fracture, right-clavicle fracture, radial fracture and major cranial trauma, according to arrest warrants.

The Gravitts’ marriage began to fracture in the ensuing weeks after Lucian incurred his injuries. On March 4, 2010, Leslie Gravitt, claiming physical abuse, filed a request for a domestic violence protective order against her husband who at the time was in the Onslow County Jail.

“He has been physically abusing me for two years,” Leslie Gravitt, 23, wrote in the complaint. “He threatened, well not threatened, promised to kill me. His bond got lowered yesterday and if he gets out he will kill me. He killed my dog.”

The complaint states Leslie Gravitt was assaulted three times after her son’s injuries and multiple times prior to that.

Brandon Gravitt told detectives after his son’s injuries were discovered by doctors at Naval Hospital on Feb. 5, 2010, that he was a restless sleeper and may have backhanded Lucian while sleeping in the bed with him, Senior Assistant District Attorney J.B. Askins told the court.

Lucian was flown to Chapel Hill in critical condition.

Brandon and Leslie married Jan. 10, 2008. Nine months later, Leslie gave birth to their first child, Gianna. Lucian, was born Dec. 16, 2009.

At the time of incident, Leslie Gravitt was a lance corporal stationed at Camp Lejeune, and had just returned to her job after her prescribed maternity leave. She left the Marine Corps on Oct. 16.

Brandon Gravitt is an honorably discharged Marine who served in Iraq and had been his daughter’s primary caregiver for 14 months prior to the February 2010 incident with his son. He was caring for the couple’s two children in their Murrill Hill Road home at the time Lucian was injured, said Brandon Gravitt’s attorney, Swansboro lawyer Kenneth Glover.

Everyone was a victim in the tragic case, Glover said.

Leslie Gravitt said her son is now 17 months old but performs at the level of a 3-month-old. Lucian is being seen by six therapists each week and has yet to speak, sit up by himself or play with toys. Despite these setbacks she said he “has the greatest smile in the world.”

When Henry sentenced Brandon Gravitt to the two to three years, he also ordered him to seek psychiatric counseling, pay $1,522 to the Victim’s Relief Fund and have no contact with his wife or children. Brandon Gravitt will receive credit for the 416 days he has spent in pre-trial confinement.