Friday, November 2, 2012

Dad arrested for assaulting 3-month-old son (Bucks County, Pennsylvania)

Was there a mother in this home? Notice that there is no mention of one. A grandmother is quoted, but no mom. It appears that Daddy has "cared for" this baby many times, which explains all the subdural hematomas in various stages of healing.

Dad is identified as KYLE HINKLE.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/bensalem-man-accused-of-abusing--month-old-son/article_687da671-f053-5486-ad08-14fbfd2a48d7.html

Bensalem man accused of abusing 3-month-old son

Posted: Friday, November 2, 2012 9:29 am | Updated: 11:16 am, Fri Nov 2, 2012.

By Jo Ciavaglia Staff writer PhillyBurbs.com

When his infant son wouldn’t stop crying one morning last month, a 25-year-old father violently shook him multiple times, injuring the boy, Bensalem police said.

On Thursday, Kyle Hinkle, 25, of the 1500 block of Virginia Avenue was arrested and charged with assault on his 3-month-old child.

Bensalem police launched an investigation Oct. 12, the day that the baby was treated at Aria Health Torresdale campus in Philadelphia for injuries consistent with shaken-baby syndrome.

Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services notified police after being told by Aria’s ER doctor that a baby boy was suffering subdural hematomas and retinal hemorrhages -- serious injuries that were “highly suspect” for inflicted abuse, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The ER doctor reportedly told police that the infant had undergone a CT scan of his head and that doctors found retinal hemorrhages and “new and old” bilateral subdural hematomas, which occur when a blood vessel near the surface of the brain bursts. The injuries were in various stages of healing, according to court documents.

The infant was admitted to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia where he was examined by the hospital’s director of child protective program. The abuse evaluation concluded that the injuries were the result of the baby being subjected to a “significant” amount of force to cause the brain bleeds, police said.

Police learned from the infant’s caretakers that on Oct. 8 and 12 the infant showed signs of injury, with his eyes rolling back into his head and indications of a “seizure,” according to court documents. During both episodes the baby was in the care of his father, Hinkle.

The baby’s maternal grandmother told police that on an earlier occasion she found “bruising and marks” on the baby’s arm consistent with the pattern on Hinkle’s silver chain necklace, according to the affidavit.

“When the defendant was questioned by the grandmother, (he) provided multiple explanations as to why the infant had marks and bruising consistent with his necklace,” according to court documents.

Later in the investigation, police say that Hinkle admitted that he had been caring for the baby Oct. 12 and was unable to stop the infant’s crying so he shook him up and down “multiple” times without supporting his head.

Hinkle was arraigned before Bensalem District Judge Leonard Brown on charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and simple assault. He is free on 10 percent of $50,000 bail set by Brown.

The baby boy recently returned to the hospital, where he is listed in serious condition but expected to survive, police said. It's unclear if the baby has suffered any permanent brain damage.