Dad charged with causing brain injury to 6-week-old daughter (Joplin, Missouri)

Dad is identified as CODY W. WILLIAMS.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x2011609820/Father-charged-with-injuring-baby

January 4, 2014

Father charged with injuring baby

By Jeff Lehr

JOPLIN, Mo. — A young Joplin father is being held on charges that he shook his 6-week-old daughter, causing her to suffer a brain injury.

Cpl. Chuck Niess, with the Joplin Police Department, said the baby was having seizures when her parents brought her to the emergency room of Freeman Hospital West about 9 a.m. Thursday.

Doctors decided the girl was in serious condition from a shaken-baby injury, and arranged for her transfer by medical helicopter to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Niess said.

The baby’s father, Cody W. Williams, 25, was interviewed by investigators and arrested Thursday afternoon on a felony charge of child abuse.

A probable-cause affidavit filed in Jasper County Circuit Court alleges that Williams admitted shaking the girl inside their home at 114 S. Butler Ave. about 3:30 a.m. Thursday when she would not stop crying. The affidavit states that he was asked by investigators to demonstrate what he had done with a doll and he “violently shook the (doll) more than one time.”

Williams remained in custody late Friday afternoon at the Joplin City Jail. His bond set at $10,000.