Dad charged in beating death of 7-month-old daughter (Richmond, Kentucky)

The daddy is WILLIAM LEROY DAWES.

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/07/05/1800675/man-charged-in-infants-death-i.html

Father charged in infant's death: 'I would not touch my baby'
By Greg Kocher — gkocher@herald-leader.com

Posted: 12:04pm on Jul 5, 2011; Modified: 1:32pm on Jul 5, 2011

RICHMOND — A Madison County man charged in the beating death of his 7-month-old daughter said that neither he nor his wife harmed the girl.

In an interview Tuesday at the Madison County jail, William Leroy Dawes, 27, said, "I would not touch my baby. My wife would not touch my baby. She was our world."

Dawes is charged with murder in the July 2 death of Serenity Dawes. The girl's mother, Diana Dawes, 25, is charged with criminal abuse and complicity to murder. Both are being held at the Madison County jail.

Kentucky State Police said Serenity Dawes was taken to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital on July 1 with multiple injuries, including a fractured skull, a broken leg, retinal hemorrhaging and bruising.

Dawes said Serenity stopped breathing late Thursday night, and he went to a neighbor's home to have them call 911. There was no phone at the Dawes' home on Red Hill Road. The girl was taken to the Richmond hospital and later to UK.

Dawes said Serenity had had trouble breathing since she had come back from a relative's care earlier last week. He said he thought Serenity's wheezing was because she had caught a cold from him and his 3-year-old stepson, Connor, who was taken into protective custody.

On a Facebook page, Dawes describes himself as "one crazy ass white boy with an attitude who loves to kick ass over family ..."

In the interview, Dawes maintained that he would never hurt the child.

"We never thought anybody would hurt our baby. She was the sweetest thing ever," Dawes said.