Dad faces murder charges in death of 2-month-old son (Butler County, Ohio)

Dad is identified as AUSTIN MORRIS. No mention of a mother in the home. Was there one?

Here we find out that it was the mother's second day back at work after maternity leave. This is why we need longer maternity leaves for moms. So they don't have to leave their babies with violent, impulsive fathers who are so easily "frustrated."

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/crime-law/fairfield-dad-faces-murder-charge-in-death-of-infa/nkDRg/

Posted: 11:16 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

Fairfield dad faces murder charge in death of infant son

By Lauren Pack Staff Writer

BUTLER COUNTY — A Fairfield father is now facing a murder charge for allegedly causing the death of his 2-month-old son.

Austin Morris, 23, of West Point Pleasant Circle, was indicted today by a Butler County grand jury for felony child endangering. Fairfield police say Morris caused the injuries on Jan. 13 that led to the death of his infant son two days later.

Morris was originally charge with felonious assault and child endangering hours after the child was taken to Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center where he died of his injuries, according to police.

At a preliminary hearing last month in Fairfield Municipal Court, Fairfield police detective Rebecca Ervin said that while questioning Morris on Jan. 13, he told her he became frustrated with the infant, Benjamin, while giving him a bottle at his home.

He “shook the baby and threw him against the wall,” Ervin testified. Morris told her he believed the baby struck his head against a windowsill after he was thrown.

Doctors at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center said the infant had several head injuries, including a skull fracture, and did not think the injuries were accidental, Ervin said during testimony.

Morris is being held in the Butler County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 25 in Judge Craig Hedric’s courtroom.