Dad charged with abusing 7-week-old daughter (Kirkwood, Missouri)

Dad is identified as NATHANAEL W. CHANDLER. Of course he was alone with the baby when she started to crying. He admits striking her. She has several fractured bones, severe bruising, and a "significant" brain bleed. No mention of the baby's mother. Was she working while Daddy was "caretaking"?

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT

http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/features/x300722379/Local-man-charged-with-shaking-his-infant-daughter

Local man charged with shaking his infant daughter
Daily Express
Posted Dec 02, 2011 @ 11:37 AM

The father of a seven-week-old infant was charged Thursday with child abuse after he took his daughter to the hospital with several fractured bones and severe bruising consistent with shaken baby syndrome.

Police arrested Nathanael W. Chandler, 24, of Kirksville Thursday after authorities were called to the Northeast Regional Medical Center over the weekend due to the severe injuries sustained by the seven-week-old girl.

According to the probable cause statement, the infant was transfered to Columbia for pediatric care with injuries including bruising to the face, a suspected fracture to the left tibia and right femur, as well as “significant brain bleed.”

The probable cause statement lists those injuries as “consistent” with shaken baby syndrome or other striking force.

Chandler reportedly admitted to being alone with the infant the night she sustained her injuries and that she was crying and would not stop.

According to the probable cause statement, he said he struck the baby with an open palm and that, while shaking the infant, he fell over a baby swing, dropped the infant on her face and partially landed on her, according to the probable cause statement.

Chandler was being held in the Adair County Jail as of Friday morning on a $25,000 bond. He has been charged with the class C felony of child abuse.