Babysitting dad could be charged with capital murder in death of 4-month-old son (Irving, Texas)

Dad JAVIER ERNESTO RODRIQUEZ was babysitting while Mom was working--how often do we see a similar preface to stories involving the murder of infants?

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/07/3206334/irving-dad-could-face-capital.html#0_undefined,0_

Irving dad could face capital murder charge in son's death
Posted Thursday, Jul. 07, 2011

By Domingo Ramirez Jr.

ramirez@star-telegram.com

An Irving father could be charged with capital murder in the death of his 4-month-old son who died at a Dallas hospital during the weekend, Irving police said Thursday.

Four-month-old Javier Rodriguez Jr. passed away Saturday at Children's Medical Center of Dallas five days after he arrived at the hospital, suffering from severe injuries.

Javier Ernesto Rodriguez, 19, was in the Dallas County Jail on Thursday on suspicion of injury to a child.

The injury to a child charge may be upgraded to capital murder, depending on the results of the investigation, Irving police said Thursday.

The teen was arrested on June 28 shortly after the baby was taken to the Dallas hospital.

According to a witness, the teen was baby-sitting his son on June 27 while the infant's mother was at work in Irving. The teen and mother are boyfriend and girlfriend.

Javier Rodriguez is accused of shaking the baby because he would not stop crying, according to a witness. Irving police could not confirm that on Thursday, but they said that the baby had suffered injuries consistent with child abuse.

The baby's mother noticed when Javier Rodriguez picked her up from work the night of June 27 that her son would not wake up, police said. The couple took the infant to an Irving hospital, and he was then transferred to the Dallas hospital.

Irving investigators had responded to a call from the hospital of a possible child abuse case about 2 a.m. on June 28.

After police interviews with the parents of the baby, doctors and hospital officials, the teen was taken into custody. Police did not release any other details about the injuries.

The family had lived in the 3300 block of Willow Creek Drive in Irving.