Dad accused of severely beating 17-month-old son (Lee County, Florida)

Dad ANGEL HERNANDEZ is charged in the severe beating of his 17-month-old son. No mention of the baby's mother....just anonymous "family members." The baby is now in the custody of Florida DCF...God help him...

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT.

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/15196807/2011/08/02/father-charged-with-severely-beating-infant

Father accused of beating 17-month-old
Posted: Aug 02, 2011 4:26 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 02, 2011 5:10 PM CDT

LEE COUNTY, FL - An infant is in the hospital after allegedly being beaten so badly he needed emergency surgery to survive, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office. The suspect is the boy's father.

A 17-month old boy was beaten, allegedly by his own father, Angel Hernandez.

Family members knew something was wrong with the little boy because he wouldn't stop throwing up. They rushed him to the hospital.

"The child had a perforated bowel and stomach lining that needed immediate surgery," said Tony Schall of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Doctors told deputies those injuries could have only come from blunt force trauma.

Detectives began questioning Hernandez.

"The story they were told at the hospital is that the child slipped and fell on barbell weights," said Schall.

But later, detectives say Hernandez admitted to beating his son.

"The child had somehow spilled some juice. He got very upset and laid the child out on the couch and punched him with a closed fist," said Schall.

Deputies say Hernandez punched the baby in the abdomen. He allegedly said he was just overwhelmed by domestic and financial problems.

No one answered the door at his Bonita Springs home, but a woman later came out and got into a car.

Hernandez is facing a felony charge of child abuse.

His little boy is now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.