Dad charged with manslaughter in death of 1-month-old son (Hardin County, Kentucky)

Dad is identified as JARROD D. DAVIS. There is no mention of a mother in the home.

http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/police-arrest-father-death-son

Police arrest father in death of son

A Boy, 1 month, died Tuesday

By Sarah Bennett Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 11:02 pm (Updated: January 16, 11:30 pm)

The day after emergency officials found a 1-month-old boy dead in a Radcliff apartment, police arrested his father.

Jarrod D. Davis, 23, of Radcliff, is charged with second-degree manslaughter. He was arrested at noon Wednesday following an interview at the Radcliff Police Department.

Radcliff police responded at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday to Davis’ apartment on University Drive after receiving a call from Hardin County 911 regarding a death investigation, spokesman Bryce Shumate said.

Officials confirmed Hardin County EMS and Hardin County Coroner Dr. Bill Lee also responded.

When he was interviewed Tuesday, Davis told police he found his son — identified as “J.D.” in the citation — dead in his crib, Shumate said.

However, on Wednesday, the coroner’s office notified police preliminary autopsy results indicated the baby died of blunt force trauma to the head, he said, causing police to interview Davis again.

Lee, a 25-year veteran of the coroner’s office, described the cause of death as “multiple injuries.”

“At that stage, we start backing off,” he said. “You know it’s not a natural death.”

During a second interview with Davis, Shumate said the father admitted to dropping the child while caring for him.

According to Davis’ statements, the baby hit his head on the side of the crib as he fell, Shumate said.

“(Tuesday), when detectives talked to him, he did not report this happened,” Shumate said.

The coroner’s office and police expressed reluctance in releasing the child’s name because of the ongoing investigation.

Lee said a complete autopsy is pending and he expects a full written report will be available in two months. Some of the injuries require a special examination, he said.

As of Wednesday night, Davis’ bond had not been set. He is scheduled for video arraignment today in Hardin District Court.

Kentucky Revised Statute 507.040 describes manslaughter as “wantonly” causing the death of another person. It is a Class C felony, which is punishable by five to 10 years in prison if found guilty.