Dad arrested for killing 9-month-old son (Silsbee, Texas)

After Daddy beat an elderly relative, she should have been kept in jail. He certainly shouldn't have been allowed around babies.

Dad is identified as DONNY DOMINIQUE RATCLIFF.

http://www.khou.com/story/news/crime/2015/08/07/father-arrested-9-month-old-sons-death/31324773/

Father arrested in 9-month-old son's death

KBMT-TV, Beaumont 9:27 p.m. CDT August 7, 2015

SILSBEE -- A spokesperson for the Silsbee Police Department Friday said a father was arrested in connection with the Feb. 13 death his 9-month-old son.

Donny Dominique Ratcliff, 42, is charged in the death of his child Donatello Ratcliff. Detectives said Ratcliff confessed to the crime, saying he suffocated the baby with his hands after the infant would not stop crying.

Detectives said Ratcliff told them he did not use a weapon -- only his bare hands.

A statement issued by police says Silsbee officers in February were called to the Tiger Village Trailer Park, located in the 1300 block of Robinson Road, to Trailer# 41, to investigate a report of an unresponsive child. The child was taken to a Beaumont hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead. An autopsy was ordered and the results indicated the child died from asphyxia.

The investigation led officers to suspect the father had intentionally caused the death of the child.

Police say Ratcliff confessed on Aug. 6. They say he has since cooperated with authorities.

Ratcliff was formally charged Friday with capital murder of a child under 10 years of age. He has been arraigned by Hardin County Justice of the Peace Chris Ingram, who set bond at $825,000.

Ratcliff was already in jail for several months because detectives said after the baby's death, Ratcliff beat an elderly relative of his wife's.

Ratcliff is currently being held in the Hardin County Jail.

Silsbee is about about 30 minutes north of Beaumont.