"Frustrated" dad accused of murdering 15-month-old son (Glens Falls, New York)

Dad is identified as GARY LEE WAITE. Was he babysitting? No explanation as to where Mom was.

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S2502328.shtml?cat=300

Father accused of murder in toddler's death
Posted at: 02/17/2012 5:53 PM | Updated at: 02/17/2012 6:19 PM
By: Mark Mulholland

GLENS FALLS - He's now charged with killing his own son.

Late Friday afternoon a Warren County Grand Jury Friday afternoon voted to indict Gary Lee Waite on murder charges.

The 28-year-old Waite is accused of murdering his 15-month-old-son, Jesse James Smith.

Jesse passed away Wednesday night at Albany Medical Center. The autopsy determined that the boy died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Waite, of Glens Falls, told police that he got frustrated Monday afternoon because the boy wouldn't calm down. So, he claims he threw the boy onto the couch at his Orville Street apartment and he bounced off and onto the hardwood floor. Police say he threw the child with such force that he fractured his skull in two places.

The child's grandfather, Leland Smith, says he doesn't believe Waite's story that the toddler bounced off the couch. "Because there was too much damage to his skull. Way too much," said Smith.

The indictment accuses Waite of Murder in the second degree, manslaughter in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child.

As Jesse's family grieved and made funeral arrangements Friday they were still trying to figure out how someone could hurt a defenseless child.

I don't think there was a moment he wasn't smiling," said Smith. "He was just a great kid. And there isn't a whole lot more you can say about him because he never did anything wrong."

Waite's attorney, Mike Mercure, says his client tells him that it was an "accident."

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 Monday at Gospel Lighthouse Church on LaCrosse Street in Hudson Falls. The funeral will be held Tuesday at 11.