Dad charged with abusing 4-month-old daughter; baby has severe head injuries (Lexington, Kentucky)

Dad is identified as DARNELL TAGALOA. No mention of a mother in the home.

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Infant-suffers-serious-injuries-in-Lexington-abuse-case-277046711.html

Lexington father accused of shaking infant daughter

Updated: Thu 6:36 PM, Sep 25, 2014

By: Jerrika Insco

A father is in jail and his daughter in the hospital after Lexington Police say he shook the four-month-old. Darnell Tagaloa is charged with criminal abuse.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A father is in jail and his daughter in the hospital after Lexington Police say he shook the four-month-old. It's a disturbing case that a Lexington child care center says didn't have to happen.

"We offer free child care," said Jenny Norman, the child care director at The Nest in Lexington. "So if you need a break, all you have to do is just call us and no matter what we are going to make spots."

After hearing about this case involving Darnell Tagaloa, 27, of Lexington and his four-month-old daughter, The Nest is pushing parents to get help from them. An arrest citation states he shook his baby at his home on Kenesaw Drive on Sunday because she wouldn't stop crying.

"Your heart breaks a little for this little one because we want people to know that we're here to help in those situations," said Norman.

That infant is now suffering with severe head injuries, and the father is in jail with a first degree criminal abuse charge.

"Children are resilient to a point, but it's just so hard," said Norman. "We see it day in and day out. It affects the way they play. It affects the way they sleep. It affects they're learning. It's just a constant struggle."

This center even has a temporary program that's free of charge where you can drop off your kids if you feel overwhelmed and need some weight off your shoulders.

"Every time we see it or we have to get involved in it, it just breaks our hearts," said Norman. "Children are the most precious gifts that we have."

So their number one mission at The Nest is to prevent child abuse by being proactive and hopefully stopping cases like this from happening.

As far as we know, that baby is still being treated at UK Hospital.

Tagaloa pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday. His preliminary hearing is set for October 2.