Baby dies during overnight visit with dad; why did dad with outstanding drug warrants have any custodial rights? (Shreveport, Louisiana)

Once again, we see the triumph of fathers rights over common sense or decency. Why would a vulnerable 1-year-old child "need" visitation with a criminal father who has outstanding warrants for narcotics violations? Do we really think that every child needs a father--no matter what Daddy's track record is? Are we really surprised at the outcome here? Or Daddy's clueless response to the motionlesss baby?

Dad is identified as RODRICUS CRAWFORD.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20120217/NEWS01/202170317/Authorities-investigate-death-1-year-old-child

Authorities investigate the death of 1-year-old child
9:32 AM, Feb. 17, 2012

Written by Loresha Wilson

Roderius Lott lives with his mother but spent Wednesday night with his father.

On Thursday morning, the 1-year-old was found unresponsive inside the Mooretown residence.
Firefighters responded to an EMS call in the 6800 block of Broadway Avenue just before 7 a.m. and found him, police said. The child was pronounced dead a short time later at Willis-Knighton North Hospital, and by 8:30 a.m., an autopsy was under way to determine how he died.

"Right now, it's too early to call it a criminal investigation," said Bill Goodin, spokesman for Shreveport police. "But like any other time, when a 1-year-old dies, there is an err on the side of caution."

Investigators spent most of Thursday searching the residence, collecting any possible evidence. At least four people at the residence, including the child's father, Rodricus Crawford, 23, were taken to the police station and interviewed by investigators. However, authorities will not disclose if there were physical signs of abuse on the child.

Abbie Crawford, the child's paternal grandmother, said she peeped in her son's room after waking up Thursday and saw him sitting on the bed holding the child.

"I opened the door, and Rodricus was holding the baby in his arms," Crawford said. "He said, 'Mama look at Bo-Bo.' I looked at the baby. He wasn't moving, so I grabbed him and started yelling for someone to call 911.

"I played with Bo-Bo before he went to bed last night, and he slept with his dad."

Rodricus Crawford later was booked into jail on outstanding warrants charging him with second offense possession of schedule 1 narcotics and contempt of court, Goodin said.

He also was charged with a second count of second offense possession of scheduled 1 narcotics after investigators found a small amount of suspected marijuana inside the Broadway residence Thursday.

The investigation into the child's death is ongoing, and no criminal charges have been filed.

"He was such a sweet child and very, very smart," said Toni Crawford, the child's aunt. "This little boy was so smart. He was talking before he was walking. And Abbie loved her grandbaby. Lord have mercy."

Caddo Coroner Dr. Todd Thoma is working to determine the cause of death.