Dad sent to trial for murder of 7-week-old son (Cambria County, Pennsylvania)

Dad is identified as JUSTIN MICHAEL CHARLES SR. No mention of the mom, though this was basically a newborn.

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT

http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x1296867370/Suspect-sent-to-trial-for-infant-son-s-death

January 24, 2012

Suspect sent to trial for infant son’s death

Patrick Buchnowski
The Tribune-Democrat Tue Jan 24, 2012, 11:42 PM EST

SALIX — The father of a South Fork infant admitted to police that he broke the boy’s legs and shook him so violently that he became unresponsive and later died, a Cambria County detective testified Tuesday.

Detective Kevin Price was one of three witnesses to testify in a preliminary hearing for 23-year-old Justin Michael Charles Sr., who is charged with criminal homicide.

Seven-week-old Justin Charles Jr. died Dec. 23 at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The boy was declared brain dead and was removed from life support, said Dr. Janet Squires, head of a child-advocacy program at Children’s Hospital, paramedic Chad Stiffey said.

“From the moment the baby arrived, there was essentially no hope the child would live,” Squires said in testimony via telephone.

The infant was suffering from multiple leg fractures, retinal hemorrhaging and subdural hematoma. The boy’s injuries indicated child abuse, Squires testified.

District Judge Rick Varner ordered Charles to county court to face trial. In addition to criminal homicide, he also is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Charles was returned to Cambria County Prison, where he is being held without bond.