Dad charged in murder of 4-month-old son; has history of domestic violence (Chicago, Illinois)

Notice that dad RAHSAAN CONDIFF has a history of domestic violence, and that this was not the first time he had abused the baby. 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-rogers-park-man-charged-with-death-of-infant-son-20131024,0,7962375.story

Prosecutors detail abuse by man charged with infant son's death

By Rosemary Regina Sobol Tribune reporter 4:36 p.m. CDT, October 24, 2013

A Rogers Park man charged with his infant son's death had dropped him on the floor, shook him, then covered his nose and mouth until he died, prosecutors said in court today.

Rahsaan Condiff, 25, was charged with murder this week after a yearlong investigation into the death of his 4-month-old son Clayton and ordered held without bail in a Cook County Bond Court hearing today.

The baby's twin sister was removed from the home in the 7500 block of North Seeley Avenue shortly after the death, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services says it continues to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect against both the father and the mother, officials said. The mother has not been been charged with any crime, according to police.

The baby boy was found unresponsive in the couple's home on Sept. 2 of last year.

Condiff and the mother told police they had fed Clayton about 8 a.m. and went to their bedroom an hour later and slept until 12:45 p.m. when they found Clayton “blue in color’’ in his sleeper chair, according to the police report.

Condiff told police Clayton seemed to have turned himself on his side and his mouth was partially covered with blankets, possibly obstructing his airway, the report said.

But an autopsy found Clayton had suffered several injuries and fractures to the spine, ribs, head and thigh bone, they said. Clayton's twin sister was removed from the home and placed in the care of a relative, police said.

During the investigation, authorities said they learned Condiff had beaten and suffocated his baby son after the infant's crying woke him up,according to Assistant State's Attorney Heather Kent. 

When the boy's mother asked Condiff to feed the babies who were in their sleepers, Condiff, who had gone out the night before drinking, picked Clayton up and dropped him to the ground, facing up, hitting the victim's head on the floor, according to Kent.

When the victim continued crying, Condiff then "yanked the victim's head, leg and body up from the floor, grabbed him with both hands and shook him," Kent said.

Condiff then "swadddled the victim with a blanket tightly, covering the victim's nose and mouth while the victim had a pacifier in his mouth, restricting his breathing, according to Kent. Condiff went back into the bedroom as the mother went into the bathroom but moments later, Condiff came rushing into the bathroom carrying Clayton, who had turned blue and was not breathing.

Clatyon was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston where he was pronounced dead at 1:56 p.m. that day, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

An autopsy later found that Clayton suffered multiple fractures at different stages of healing, according to Kent. Some of the injuries included several rib fractures, spine fractures, arm fracutres, a femur fracture, and hemorrhaging to the scalp, Kent said.

Condiff admitted to suffocating, squeezing, shaking and grabbing Clayton forcefully by the arms on previous occasions, Kent said.

Condiff was arrested and charged this week and appeared in court today. At the hearing, Condiff wore a black long-sleeved shirt, gray pants and gym shoes. He did not say anything to Judge James Brown and kept his hands clasped behind his back.

Defense attorney Kathleen Moriarty told the judge Condiff is a full-time worker and has been taking psychology classes at a college. His next hearing is Nov. 12.

DCFS is investigating allegations of neglect and abuse against the mother and father involving both babies, according to DCFS spokeswoman Karen Hawkins. She said the agency had no prior contact with the family.

Records show Condiff was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in October of 2010, but the charge was dropped the next month.