Dad arrested for abusing 3-year-old son during visitation has extensive history of domestic violence (Jackson County, Mississippi)

A father with this history of domestic violence never should have been allowed any access or visitation with a child. Not clarified here if it was the boy's mother that was repeatedly assaulted, but it seem likely. And of course, still no clarification as to whether visitation was court-ordered (or whether Daddy merely bullied the mother). And if court-ordered, by whom.

Dad is identifieid as NATHAN BLAKE MCCRORY.

http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/crime/article71552022.html

Father accused in child abuse case arrested in other domestic-related incidents

Nathan Blake McCrory, 24, is charged with child abuse and manufacturing a controlled substance.

By MARGARET BAKER

JACKSON COUNTY -- A 3-year-old child who suffered critical injuries allegedly at the hands of his father is starting to show signs of improvement, according to a family member.

Zander Saucier was taken by ambulance to Singing River Hospital on Sunday and airlifted a day later to USA Women's and Children's Hospital for further treatment. His father, Nathan Blake McCrory, 24, is being held in the Jackson County jail on felony charges of child abuse and marijuana cultivation in the case.

"Zander has opened both eyes," a family member posted on Facebook, adding that the boy had also given a high-five at the doctor's request.

"I asked the doc when he'd be able to tell us what to expect and he shrugged and said now," the relative said. The doctor told the family he expected to the boy to be "just fine" based on his latest movements.

McCrory is due in court at 2 p.m. Wednesday for an initial appearance in his criminal case.

At that time, County Court Judge T. Larry Wilson is expected to set McCrory's bond and read the formal charges against him.

The criminal investigation

Jackson County sheriff's investigators began a criminal probe after Singing River Hospital officials called to report that the boy's injuries were inconsistent with a fall. McCrory had brought his unresponsive son to his grandmother Sunday and said the boy had fallen down the stairs at McCrory's home on Rayford Shumoch Road.

McCrory did not go to the hospital to check on his son, Ezell said.

Sheriff's deputies arrested McCrory on Monday on criminal charges in the case.

McCrory was arrested on the additional drug charge after deputies found what they believed to be marijuana growing in the home.

The sheriff described the boy's injuries as "real bad" and said he had bruising all over his body.

McCrory accused in other assaults

McCrory's arrest Monday was not a first for him.

On April 29, 2013, Ezell said, sheriff's deputies arrested McCrory on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence by simple assault and malicious mischief. In that case, he said, another ex-girlfriend of McCrory's reported he had assaulted her and damaged her vehicle, which included breaking out a window.

In 2011, Ezell said, the same woman called to report she suspected McCrory had caused damage to her vehicle, but she did not pursue charges in the case.

In another incident on Nov. 29, 2014, in Okaloosa County, Fla., sheriff's deputies arrested McCrory on two counts of first-degree battery by domestic violence, both misdemeanor offenses.

According to the affidavit filed in that case, the same ex-girlfriend told authorities she was sitting in the backseat of a Toyota Tundra headed east on Miracle Strip Parkway in Fort Walton Beach when she and McCrory got into an argument.

During the argument, the affidavit said, McCrory "grabbed (the woman) by the hair and started pulling it..."

The truck's driver stopped the truck, the report said, got out and went around to the backseat to try to break up the fight.

McCrory, the report said, started hitting the driver while the girlfriend tried grabbing McCrory by the neck to pull him off the man trying to intervene.

The driver then got back in the truck and started to drive off, the report said, when McCrory reached from the backseat and started hitting the driver again.

The driver later told authorities he intervened after he heard McCrory's girlfriend shout, "Blake don't hit me."

The driver also told authorities that when he reached in the backseat, McCrory started hitting him and even "choked him."

The driver admitted striking McCrory as well to stop the fighting.

McCrory's mother was a witness

McCrory's mother, the report said, confirmed McCrory and his then girlfriend got into a fight in the back seat and her son struck the driver "several times" when he tried to stop the fighting.

McCrory, the affidavit said, claimed he struck the driver as a way of "defending himself."

Okaloosa County investigators also noted McCrory appeared to be impaired at the time of his arrest because his eyes were bloodshot and he wreaked of alcohol.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the child abuse allegations against McCrory is continuing.

To report information, call Jackson County sheriff's Investigator Eddie Clark at 872-7997.

Sun Herald staffer Kate Magandy contributed to this report