Babysitting dad charged with killing newborn son (Chicago, Illinois)

Dad is identified as ARTHUR CARPENTER.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-baby-murder-dad-charged-met-20131207,0,1940824.story

Dad charged in baby's death
Newborn died of septic shock, prosecutor says

By Steve Schmadeke, Chicago Tribune reporter
December 7, 2013

A Far South Side father was charged with killing his newborn son after the infant died of a massive infection 11 days after he suffered an internal injury while alone at home with his father, Cook County prosecutors said Friday.

Arthur Carpenter, 22, was watching his 28-day-old son at his Roseland neighborhood home while the child's mother was at school on the morning of Oct. 31, Assistant State's Attorney Maura White said.

The mother left her home on East 117th Place about 8:45 a.m. and returned about 11:15 a.m., according to police. When the mother returned, the baby — identified as Jahki Carpenter by the Cook County medical examiner's office — was fussy and crying, police said.

The mother twice saw the baby spit up blood and decided to take him to the hospital, White said. As she buckled him into the car, the mother noticed bruises and scratches on the newborn's face and returned inside the home to confront Carpenter, she said.

At Trinity Hospital, doctors found the boy had a tear to his esophagus that extended from his lips. Prosecutors said the injury appeared to be caused by an adult's finger and that the facial bruising also indicated child abuse.

Jahki was later transferred to Comer Children's Hospital, where he died Nov. 11, according to police and the medical examiner's office.

The boy's lungs stopped working due to septic shock, according to the prosecutor.

The medical examiner's office concluded the boy's death was a homicide and the result of child abuse, White said.

Judge Israel Desierto set bail at $500,000 for Carpenter.

Tribune reporter Liam Ford contributed.