Dad charged with assaulting 12-week-old daughter; returned to jail (Dukes County, Massachusetts)

Dad is identified as SHAUN SICSICO.

http://www.mvtimes.com/2013/08/01/shaun-sicsico-returned-jail-following-hearing-16728/

Shaun Sicsico returned to jail following hearing

By Christy Aumer
August 1, 2013

Shaun Sicsico, charged with seriously injuring his infant daughter, was returned to the Dukes County Jail where he is being held on $50,000 cash bail, after a brief court appearance before Judge Thomas Barrett in Edgartown District Court Thursday.

Mr. Sicsico's lawyer, Robert Manning of Barnstable, told Judge Barrett that his knowledge of the case extended to Mr. Sicsico's $50,000 cash bail. The judge continued the case for a further pretrial hearing, set for August 9.

The baby's injuries were discovered when the child's parents, Andrea Metell of Oak Bluffs and Mr. Sicsico, brought her to the Martha's Vineyard Hospital. The child was later transferred by MedFlight to Boston Children's Hospital.

The attending physicians, as well as Dr. Alice Newton, medical director of the Child Protection Team at Boston Children's Hospital, came to the conclusion that the child's injuries were consistent with abuse, according to a copy of the statement of facts presented to the court and obtained by The Times.

The baby had "bruising on all limbs, as well as bruising of eyelids, and a torn frenulum [a connecting fold of membrane serving to support or restrain a part (as the tongue)]."

The hospital contacted the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and told the social welfare agency that Jaelynn had been brought to the hospital with severe brain injuries. DCF social workers took emergency custody of the child and called the Oak Bluffs Police Department.

Oak Bluffs and State Police arrested Mr. Sicsico Sunday on a charge of assault and battery on a child, causing substantial injuries that left his 12-week-old daughter, born prematurely, on life support.

Mr. Sicsico told the police officers that "he spun the victim and may have spun her too hard," according to court records.

Jaelynn Elizabeth Metell was born on May 2, at Massachusetts General Hospital. She weighed 2 pounds, 8 ounces at birth, according to her birth announcement.

In a telephone conversation Monday, Cape and Island's District Attorney Michael O'Keefe said the child had only been home for three to four weeks and was at Children's Hospital "on life support."

Boston Children's Hospital media representative Erin Tornatore said Thursday she could not provide any information on the condition of the baby.