Dad charged with felony murder in trauma death of infant daughter (Crossville, Tennessee)

Dad is identified as KEVIN DAVID HASTINGS. No mention of a mother in the home. Wonder what Daddy was on probation for?

http://crossville-chronicle.com/local/x865763663/Dad-indicted-in-baby-s-death

August 29, 2013

Dad indicted in baby’s death

By Michael R. Moser Editor
The Crossville Chronicle
Thu Aug 29, 2013, 08:00 AM CDT

CROSSVILLE — The father of an infant who died from trauma after being transferred to a regional trauma center earlier this month has been indicted in connection with the baby’s death, an assistant state prosecutor confirmed.

Kevin David Hastings was served the two-count indictment from a special grand jury that convened Friday at the Warren County Jail in McMinnville where he is serving a 30-day probation violation on an unrelated charge. Hastings, 29, is specifically charged with felony murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of his daughter, Grace Hastings, who died Aug. 2 at Children’s Hospital in Knoxville.

Hastings is being held without bond and will be returned to the Cumberland County Justice Center jail upon completion of his sentence in Warren County.

No other arrests are anticipated at this time.

“The indictment alleges that Kevin Hastings committed the felony of aggravated child abuse by inflicting serious bodily injury on the infant on July 20, 2013,” Assistant District Attorney General Carolyn Knight said in a press release. “In the second count, it is alleged that the injuries sustained during the perpetration of the aggravated child abuse resulted in the infant’s death on Aug. 2.”

The baby was born in April and in July was rushed from its apartment home on Burnett St. to Cumberland Medical Center with injuries that required transfer to the trauma center, sparking an investigation by the Crossville Police Department and the Department of Children’s Services.

District Attorney General Randy York followed up with a predication letter to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, requesting a formal investigation after the child died.

After the TBI completed its investigation, including the interviewing of witnesses and the infant’s medical records, the case was returned to the DA’s Office and the special grand jury convened Friday.

“We appreciate the service of the grand jurors, who took time away from their busy schedules, to convene on short notice,” Knight said. “We also appreciate the TBI, the Crossville Police Department and the Investigative Unit of the DA’s Office, all of which contributed to the investigation of this case.”

Hastings is scheduled to appear in Cumberland County Criminal Court for arraignment on the charges on Sept. 18.