Dad admits breaking leg of 5-month-old son during diaper change--then lying about it (Kissimmee, Florida)

Yet another father who broke the baby's leg during a diaper change.

This one is identified as JORGE SANTIAGO.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-jorge-santiago-child-abuse-20141230-story.html

Dad admits breaking infant's bone while changing diaper, police allege

By Desiree Stennett Staff Writer

Kissimmee dad arrested on aggravated child abuse charges

December 30, 2014, 4:28 PM

A 24-year-old Kissimmee father was arrested Monday after police say he broke his infant son's thigh bone and lied about how it happened.

Jorge Santiago initially told police he was holding his 5-month-old son tucked under his arm. He said he sat down in a chair and reached to pick up a blanket that was on the floor. That's when heard "a loud 'pop' and the baby started to cry about one minute later, a report said.

Santiago's story suggested that the weight of his body put too much pressure on the baby's left bent leg and caused the infants femur to fracture.

But when Santiago and the little boy's mother brought him to Osceola Regional Medical Center about 9 a.m. Monday, emergency room doctors realized Santiago's story didn't match the severity of his son's injuries. Santiago's girlfriend said she was sleeping at the time and was awakened by the baby's screaming.

Hospital staffers notified Kissimmee police and the Florida Department of Children and Families.

A doctor told police that the little boy's injury "was more consistent with a twisting motion and not consistent with simply being compressed in the wrong direction," Santiago's arrest report said.

During questioning, police explained to Santiago "that the femur is the strongest bone in the human body and that his explanation was not consistent with the amount of force it would take to break (the infant's) leg," the report said.

When confronted, Santiago admitted that he knew his story didn't add up. He later told police that the baby was injured while Santiago was attempting to change his diaper about 7:50 a.m. Monday.

"Jorge then confessed that he was getting frustrated while changing [his son's dirty] diaper because [his son] kept sticking his legs straight out keeping him form wiping and changing the diaper," the report said.

Santiago then demonstrated that how he roughly pushed his son's legs several times, with more force each time. He told police it was likely that he twisted the baby's legs as he pushed them back, the report said.

Santiago and her girlfriend lived with the baby in a single room they rented from a Kissimmee woman. They didn't have a phone or a car. The homeowner told police that she routinely heard Santiago yelling and cursing at his son.

According to the arrest report, the couple did not have a phone and had to message several friends on Facebook before they could find someone to give them a ride to the hospital. The baby was later transferred to Nemours Children's Hospital for more treatment.

Santiago was arrested on aggravated child-abuse charges and booked into the Osceola County Jail on $2,500 bail.