Dad charged in death of 4-month-old son (Leola, Pennsylvania)

Dad is identified as JESUS MANUEL LASANTA. 

http://fox43.com/2013/01/24/leola-father-charged-in-4-month-old-sons-death/#axzz2Ivb7D2NU

Leola father charged in 4-month-old son’s death

 57 mins ago

 by Trang Do Multi-media Journalist

Investigators collected key pieces of evidence from 462 Brendon Drive in Leola Thursday.

It’s the trailer where East Lampeter Township police said Jesus Manuel Lasanta admitted to yanking his 4-month-old son Nazareth from a bouncy seat, hitting him across the chest and then slamming him onto a mattress on January 13.

The baby died three days later at Hershey Medical Center.

“Extremely sad news for us to be here yet again, on another infant homicide,” said Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman. “It’s becoming all too common.”

 This is the fourth case in recent months in Lancaster County of parents or caretakers being charged with severely beating or killing very young children.

“We just hope it stops and again there’s just absolutely no excuse for any of this stuff,” Stedman said. “Obviously being a parent is stressful, but there’s never a reason for this and there’s so many other options.” 

Some at the home declined to comment, but neighbors FOX43 spoke to said the whole situation is just very sad.

“It’s frustrating, to hear it,” said one neighbor who declined to be identified. “I mean, it’s a baby, they can’t defend themselves. And it’s, it’s terrible.”

Investigators said Lasanta got into an argument with someone before abusing his son.

“Shaking a baby like that, no, only four months old, he shouldn’t even be a parent,” added the neighbor.

The child’s mother and another person were home when it happened, but they have not been charged. 

Lasanta is in the Lancaster County prison on no bond. He is charged with criminal homicide and endangering the welfare of a child.