Dad is identified as SHAWN GRAVES.
http://www.wowktv.com/story/29836170/judge-denies-leniency-for-father-accused-of-shaking-4-month-old-son
Judge denies leniency for father accused of shaking 4-month-old son
Posted: Aug 19, 2015 5:15 PM EST
Updated: Aug 19, 2015 5:27 PM EST
CHARLESTON, WV -
A judge has denied leniency for a father sentenced on child neglect charges in the shaking of his infant son.
Shawn Graves, 21, of Charleston was denied leniency by Judge Paul Ferrell during a hearing Wednesday in Charleston. He was ordered back to prison to serve the 1 to 5 years for the crime, the maximum allowed by the state.
According to court documents, the baby boy was taken by EMS to Cabell Huntington Hospital in June 2014. Hospital staff determined the baby's injuries were not accidental. A brain bleed was discovered after a CT Scan was performed on the baby. Staff at the hospital believes he was shaken.
Miraculously the child survived.
Graves entered a Kennedy plea to the crime. A Kennedy plea a guilty plea in criminal court, whereby a defendant in a criminal case does not admit the criminal act and asserts innocence.
The baby's mother, Shay Harper, believes Graves' sentence isn't enough.
"I want to hear him call me 'Momma' one day and tell me he loves me too. I want him to go to school and not be laughed at because he's different," Harper said. "I want him to have his own free will as he should. I want to see him go to prom, get a girlfriend, play sports, go to college and be successful, that's the life you've taken from him."
Doctors say the child's recovery has surpassed expectations. They say his hearing has improved and he is able to stand with the help of equipment.
Showing posts with label West Virginia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West Virginia. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Dad abuses 4-month-old baby during visitation; pleads guilty to felony child neglect (Barboursville, West Virginia)
Notice that all this took place at the "father's residence," meaning that this was a custody/visitation situation.
Babies do not need contact with non-committed fathers. They don't benefit from this kind of contact in any way, shape, or form. They need consistent loving care with their mothers. Only a dogmatic fathers rights position would say otherwise. And too often we see the results.
Dad is identified as SHAWN GRAVES.
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x45925280/Toddler-improves-ahead-of-fathers-final-punishment
Toddler improves ahead of father's final punishment
Aug. 18, 2015 @ 12:01 AM
By CURTIS JOHNSON
BARBOURSVILLE - DaMarcus Graves could soon be a walking miracle, a little more than a year after his limp body became the focal point of a case involving shaken-baby syndrome.
Medical experts had advised the family that the infant, then 4 1/2 months, may remain deaf and blind and never develop an ability to swallow or make voluntary movement.
"He has surpassed all of that," said Graves' mother, Shay Harper. "When he was first in the hospital we were excited that he moved his toe, and he's doing so much more now."
Mother and son take another step this week. They will appear before Cabell Circuit Judge Paul T. Farrell, where Harper will urge the judge to stick with prison time for the child's father, Shawn Anthony Graves.
The local rap artist, also known as Sg Tha Yunggin, entered a Kennedy plea in June to felony child neglect. Farrell immediately ordered the maximum, 1- to 5-year prison sentence, but will hear a defense argument for leniency Wednesday.
The Kennedy plea allowed for the conviction without Shawn Graves admitting or explaining his role in the crime.
Initial court filings state Shawn Graves, 22, of Huntington, told police early on that he shook his son back and forth without supporting his head. The incident occurred June 21, 2014, at the father's residence in the 1800 block of 12th Avenue, where Harper dropped off the child for supervision.
Emergency crews described the infant's body as limp and lifeless. Medical tests revealed a brain bleed, according to the initial filings.
DaMarcus Graves, now 18 months, lives with limited vision, dramatically improved hearing and swallows about an ounce or two of baby food each day, Harper said. He also can lift his head for longer periods of time, which is considered an accomplishment given his injuries and the placement of a shunt.
Within the past two months, DaMarcus Graves developed the ability to stand with the aid of equipment. Harper said that progress convinces herself and nurses he could be ready for a walker very soon.
"I'm just astounded," she said. "I bought him a Cookie Monster doll. I watched him focus on that doll and he loves the sound of (the doll's) voice. He has started reaching for the doll, and he wasn't reaching before."
Shawn Graves defended himself within hours of the incident in a series of tweets, including one which said, "Facing 2 to 10 years for something I didn't do. Smh."
Defense attorney Dennis Kelley acknowledged the plea agreement, but said Friday their side takes exception with the prosecution's idea of intent and causation. The defense believes something beyond his client's actions caused the child's injuries, including the potential of a pre-existing condition.
"I was always concerned about the timeline," he said. "My client had the child for a short period of time. Obviously the risk set forth with going to trial versus the offer was what my client wanted to do."
Kelley plans to argue for alternative sentencing Wednesday. Possibilities include probation, although he estimates credit for more than a year already behind bars could make his client eligible for parole within six months.
Harper, somewhat frustrated that Shawn Graves was allowed to plead no contest to a less serious offense, said she will urge Farrell to show no leniency.
"Not only for my child and myself," she said in opposing leniency. "That shows the community, the public, these people who harm children can just go back out in the street. That is a danger.
"... I am his voice, that is no justice for him. Nobody knows how he feels, and that is a very short sentence because Shawn Graves feels nothing compared to what my son feels," Harper added.
An April 2015 superseding indictment charged Shawn Graves with felony child abuse. The no contest plea to child neglect, a lesser included offense, resolved the case and reduced the maximum punishment from a 2- to 10-year prison sentence to a 1- to 5-year stint.
Harper recalled accepting the plea agreement with some resistance, after a prosecutor advised she needed to in light of Shawn Graves' willingness to take the lesser conviction.
Babies do not need contact with non-committed fathers. They don't benefit from this kind of contact in any way, shape, or form. They need consistent loving care with their mothers. Only a dogmatic fathers rights position would say otherwise. And too often we see the results.
Dad is identified as SHAWN GRAVES.
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x45925280/Toddler-improves-ahead-of-fathers-final-punishment
Toddler improves ahead of father's final punishment
Aug. 18, 2015 @ 12:01 AM
By CURTIS JOHNSON
BARBOURSVILLE - DaMarcus Graves could soon be a walking miracle, a little more than a year after his limp body became the focal point of a case involving shaken-baby syndrome.
Medical experts had advised the family that the infant, then 4 1/2 months, may remain deaf and blind and never develop an ability to swallow or make voluntary movement.
"He has surpassed all of that," said Graves' mother, Shay Harper. "When he was first in the hospital we were excited that he moved his toe, and he's doing so much more now."
Mother and son take another step this week. They will appear before Cabell Circuit Judge Paul T. Farrell, where Harper will urge the judge to stick with prison time for the child's father, Shawn Anthony Graves.
The local rap artist, also known as Sg Tha Yunggin, entered a Kennedy plea in June to felony child neglect. Farrell immediately ordered the maximum, 1- to 5-year prison sentence, but will hear a defense argument for leniency Wednesday.
The Kennedy plea allowed for the conviction without Shawn Graves admitting or explaining his role in the crime.
Initial court filings state Shawn Graves, 22, of Huntington, told police early on that he shook his son back and forth without supporting his head. The incident occurred June 21, 2014, at the father's residence in the 1800 block of 12th Avenue, where Harper dropped off the child for supervision.
Emergency crews described the infant's body as limp and lifeless. Medical tests revealed a brain bleed, according to the initial filings.
DaMarcus Graves, now 18 months, lives with limited vision, dramatically improved hearing and swallows about an ounce or two of baby food each day, Harper said. He also can lift his head for longer periods of time, which is considered an accomplishment given his injuries and the placement of a shunt.
Within the past two months, DaMarcus Graves developed the ability to stand with the aid of equipment. Harper said that progress convinces herself and nurses he could be ready for a walker very soon.
"I'm just astounded," she said. "I bought him a Cookie Monster doll. I watched him focus on that doll and he loves the sound of (the doll's) voice. He has started reaching for the doll, and he wasn't reaching before."
Shawn Graves defended himself within hours of the incident in a series of tweets, including one which said, "Facing 2 to 10 years for something I didn't do. Smh."
Defense attorney Dennis Kelley acknowledged the plea agreement, but said Friday their side takes exception with the prosecution's idea of intent and causation. The defense believes something beyond his client's actions caused the child's injuries, including the potential of a pre-existing condition.
"I was always concerned about the timeline," he said. "My client had the child for a short period of time. Obviously the risk set forth with going to trial versus the offer was what my client wanted to do."
Kelley plans to argue for alternative sentencing Wednesday. Possibilities include probation, although he estimates credit for more than a year already behind bars could make his client eligible for parole within six months.
Harper, somewhat frustrated that Shawn Graves was allowed to plead no contest to a less serious offense, said she will urge Farrell to show no leniency.
"Not only for my child and myself," she said in opposing leniency. "That shows the community, the public, these people who harm children can just go back out in the street. That is a danger.
"... I am his voice, that is no justice for him. Nobody knows how he feels, and that is a very short sentence because Shawn Graves feels nothing compared to what my son feels," Harper added.
An April 2015 superseding indictment charged Shawn Graves with felony child abuse. The no contest plea to child neglect, a lesser included offense, resolved the case and reduced the maximum punishment from a 2- to 10-year prison sentence to a 1- to 5-year stint.
Harper recalled accepting the plea agreement with some resistance, after a prosecutor advised she needed to in light of Shawn Graves' willingness to take the lesser conviction.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Dad with child access to 5-week-old baby gets life for infant's death (Winfield, West Virginia)
The parents are "estranged," but it is not clarified here whether dad had court-ordered custody/visitation. It may be a case where there was cultural pressure on the mother to "allow" a father of a newborn to have custody/visitation. In the end, it doesn't really matter.
Abusers are the most likely to insist on custody/visitation with newborns, and mothers who are afraid of further abuse are often afraid to fight, as they figure (rightly) that the abuser will escalate his demands if she does.
Very rarely do pregnant mothers or mothers of newborns leave relationships unless there is abuse. That is the first hint that this was a bad situation.
At any rate, the concept of father custody/visitation/access with newborns is ridiculous. Five-week-old babies need their mother. Period. They don't need or want contact with a father, especially one who is clearly volatile and irresponsible. They need stable, loving care. They don't need to hauled around in Daddy's car for days on end.
Dad is identified as ROBERT JEREMY SMITH.
See the Killer Dads and Custody list for West Virginia. And our past posts here.
http://www.wchstv.com/news/features/eyewitness-news/stories/Father-Receives-Life-With-No-Mercy-Sentence-In-Death-Of-Infant-Son-185403.shtml#.VdDysP_bItg
Father Receives Life With No Mercy Sentence In Death Of Infant Son
Updated: Fri, Aug 14 2015, 06:51 PM | Leslie Rubin, Jeffrey A. Morris
WINFIELD, W.Va. – A father received a life sentence with no mercy Friday at an emotional hearing in Putnam County Circuit Court during which he accepted responsibility for his infant son’s death.
"I not only failed my son in the most severe way imaginable, but I failed my family.
My son lost his life that day because of me. My mother lost her son that day because of me.
The most innocent of lives was taken that day and it was due to me as his father," Robert Jeremy Smith said through tears.
Judge Joseph Reeder sentenced Smith, 34, to life with no mercy for the murder of a child by failure to provide care of his infant son.
Smith’s 5-week-old son Madden was found dead in car seat in Kanawha City in May 2015.
He previously pleaded guilty to murder of a child by refusal or failure to provide necessities.
His estranged wife frantically called 911 after Smith showed up at her home with the dead child in a car seat, claiming he had dropped the infant the day before.
Few details surrounding what exactly caused Madden's death were put on the record during a previous hearing, but Smith did admit to not getting the baby help when he stopped breathing.
"My son stopped breathing and he needed emergency medical care and I failed to provide it for him," Smith said when he broke down in court during his guilty plea.
Prosecutors said after the guilty plea hearing, however, that if the case went to trial they were prepared to prove the baby had been abused and believe whatever caused his injuries was more than an accident.
"There were numerous positions of bleeding on the brain and in the baby's head that was consistent with abuse," Putnam County Assistant Prosecutor Kris Raynes said about the case.
In court on Friday, Smith said he would be willing to pay the ultimate price to make amends for the death of his son.
"I would gladly give my life so my son could have his life back," Smith said.
Abusers are the most likely to insist on custody/visitation with newborns, and mothers who are afraid of further abuse are often afraid to fight, as they figure (rightly) that the abuser will escalate his demands if she does.
Very rarely do pregnant mothers or mothers of newborns leave relationships unless there is abuse. That is the first hint that this was a bad situation.
At any rate, the concept of father custody/visitation/access with newborns is ridiculous. Five-week-old babies need their mother. Period. They don't need or want contact with a father, especially one who is clearly volatile and irresponsible. They need stable, loving care. They don't need to hauled around in Daddy's car for days on end.
Dad is identified as ROBERT JEREMY SMITH.
See the Killer Dads and Custody list for West Virginia. And our past posts here.
http://www.wchstv.com/news/features/eyewitness-news/stories/Father-Receives-Life-With-No-Mercy-Sentence-In-Death-Of-Infant-Son-185403.shtml#.VdDysP_bItg
Father Receives Life With No Mercy Sentence In Death Of Infant Son
Updated: Fri, Aug 14 2015, 06:51 PM | Leslie Rubin, Jeffrey A. Morris
WINFIELD, W.Va. – A father received a life sentence with no mercy Friday at an emotional hearing in Putnam County Circuit Court during which he accepted responsibility for his infant son’s death.
"I not only failed my son in the most severe way imaginable, but I failed my family.
My son lost his life that day because of me. My mother lost her son that day because of me.
The most innocent of lives was taken that day and it was due to me as his father," Robert Jeremy Smith said through tears.
Judge Joseph Reeder sentenced Smith, 34, to life with no mercy for the murder of a child by failure to provide care of his infant son.
Smith’s 5-week-old son Madden was found dead in car seat in Kanawha City in May 2015.
He previously pleaded guilty to murder of a child by refusal or failure to provide necessities.
His estranged wife frantically called 911 after Smith showed up at her home with the dead child in a car seat, claiming he had dropped the infant the day before.
Few details surrounding what exactly caused Madden's death were put on the record during a previous hearing, but Smith did admit to not getting the baby help when he stopped breathing.
"My son stopped breathing and he needed emergency medical care and I failed to provide it for him," Smith said when he broke down in court during his guilty plea.
Prosecutors said after the guilty plea hearing, however, that if the case went to trial they were prepared to prove the baby had been abused and believe whatever caused his injuries was more than an accident.
"There were numerous positions of bleeding on the brain and in the baby's head that was consistent with abuse," Putnam County Assistant Prosecutor Kris Raynes said about the case.
In court on Friday, Smith said he would be willing to pay the ultimate price to make amends for the death of his son.
"I would gladly give my life so my son could have his life back," Smith said.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Dad arrested for abusing infant (Beckley, West Virgnia)
Dad is identified as CORTEZ BURGER. No mention of a mother in the home.
http://www.wvnstv.com/story/29290320/father-was-arrested-in-shaken-baby-investigation-case
Father arrested in shaken baby investigation
Posted: Jun 10, 2015 6:11 PM EDT
Updated: Jun 10, 2015 6:17 PM EDT
By Robert Pauley
West Virginia State police Troopers arrested a man for child abuse case on Tuesday, June 9, 2015. The investigation began on Friday, June 5, 2015 when Troopers received notification about a child abuse case. Cortez Burger of Beckley is accused of child abuse with serious body injury and injury by parent and guardian.
Burger admitted to Troopers that on two separate occasions that he had shaken the baby. According to investigators, Burger stated that the baby would not stop crying and picked up the infant. He allegedly shook the child for about ten seconds before he realized the baby was not responsive. The baby was taken to a local hospital then later transferred to Women and Children's Hospital in Charleston. Burger could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
http://www.wvnstv.com/story/29290320/father-was-arrested-in-shaken-baby-investigation-case
Father arrested in shaken baby investigation
Posted: Jun 10, 2015 6:11 PM EDT
Updated: Jun 10, 2015 6:17 PM EDT
By Robert Pauley
West Virginia State police Troopers arrested a man for child abuse case on Tuesday, June 9, 2015. The investigation began on Friday, June 5, 2015 when Troopers received notification about a child abuse case. Cortez Burger of Beckley is accused of child abuse with serious body injury and injury by parent and guardian.
Burger admitted to Troopers that on two separate occasions that he had shaken the baby. According to investigators, Burger stated that the baby would not stop crying and picked up the infant. He allegedly shook the child for about ten seconds before he realized the baby was not responsive. The baby was taken to a local hospital then later transferred to Women and Children's Hospital in Charleston. Burger could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Dad arrested for severely abusing 5-month-old son; infant now blind, with permanent brain damage (Mercer County, West Virginia)
A case where Mom had to work and support the family, so she had to rely on the criminal daddy (fresh out of jail) for caretaking. Of course it ended up being a disaster. But the U.S. doesn't provide paid maternity leaves for moms, and certainly no decent affordable infant care. So this is what happens.
Nevertheless, even though Mom was basically guilty of holding a job and having to depend on others for child care help, she has lost custody though she is apparently not charged with anything. Except maybe failing to "supervise" this abusive creep. And how is a woman supposed to "supervise" a violent male? Does the state issue firearms? Typical of the way women are held responsible for men's crimes.
Dad is identified as BILLY WHITE.
http://www.bdtonline.com/news/father-accused-of-severely-injuring-infant-arrested/article_e804cdfe-a1d7-11e4-8918-03e81d921028.html
Father accused of severely injuring infant arrested
Posted: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 8:42 pm
By SAMANTHA PERRY Bluefield Daily Telegraph
PRINCETON — A Mercer County man accused of shaking his infant son so hard it blinded the baby and caused permanent brain damage was arrested Wednesday evening.
Billy White, 27, who last known address was Princeton, was found hiding in a closet in Lashmeet, said Sgt. M.D. Clemons, with the West Virginia State Police Crimes Against Children Unit.
Clemons, who made the arrest, said White is charged with child neglect resulting in serious injury and child abuse.
The case stems from an incident that occurred on May 30, 2014, when White called Mercer County 911 and stated that his infant son had turned blue and stopped breathing.
The 5-month-old child was transported by the Princeton Rescue Squad to Princeton Community Hospital, where a CT scan discovered a subdural hematoma on his brain, according to Clemons' criminal complaint.
The infant was transferred to Women and Children’s Hospital in Charleston where physicians determined that he had been shaken. As a result of being shaken, he had tears on the inside and outside of his retinas and was unable to see.
It was also determined that the baby had left lateral rib fractures on four ribs, Clemons said. The baby had permanent brain damage as a result of the incident.
Clemons obtained a statement from White and was told that on May 30 he was alone with the infant because his biological mother, Christina Bolin, 21, was working at a local motel. White said he had been living with Bolin and the infant since he was released from jail in April 2014.
White stated that the infant had been sick “for a couple of weeks,” and that approximately a week and a half prior to the infant being hospitalized, he had been tossing the infant up in the air and the infant “hit his soft spot on a board,” Clemons said. White also said that at approximately 5:30 a.m. on May 30, 2014, the infant woke up screaming and had "puked" all over himself.
White told Clemons that the infant "quit breathing, went limp, and his eyes rolled back in his head," according to the criminal complaint.
White advised that he “shook him a little” to try and get the infant breathing again and poured cold water on his back, Clemons said in the criminal complaint.
"His excuse for shaking the baby was that he was trying to revive him," Clemons said Wednesday. However, she noted that medical research has shown that "whoever the baby goes limp with is the one who has shaken the baby. It's an immediate reaction after the shaking."
Clemons said the infant's symptoms, including lethargy, vomiting and seizures, are consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Bolin was arrested last week on a charge of child neglect resulting in serious injury.
Clemons said she was referred to the investigation by a Mercer County Child Protective Service worker. Clemons was advised that Bolin and White had three other children along with the infant, and that their parental rights to these children had been terminated.
Clemons was also informed that Bolin had physical custody of the infant, but the state had legal custody and Bolin was on an improvement period. White was not supposed to be around the infant unsupervised.
Nevertheless, even though Mom was basically guilty of holding a job and having to depend on others for child care help, she has lost custody though she is apparently not charged with anything. Except maybe failing to "supervise" this abusive creep. And how is a woman supposed to "supervise" a violent male? Does the state issue firearms? Typical of the way women are held responsible for men's crimes.
Dad is identified as BILLY WHITE.
http://www.bdtonline.com/news/father-accused-of-severely-injuring-infant-arrested/article_e804cdfe-a1d7-11e4-8918-03e81d921028.html
Father accused of severely injuring infant arrested
Posted: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 8:42 pm
By SAMANTHA PERRY Bluefield Daily Telegraph
PRINCETON — A Mercer County man accused of shaking his infant son so hard it blinded the baby and caused permanent brain damage was arrested Wednesday evening.
Billy White, 27, who last known address was Princeton, was found hiding in a closet in Lashmeet, said Sgt. M.D. Clemons, with the West Virginia State Police Crimes Against Children Unit.
Clemons, who made the arrest, said White is charged with child neglect resulting in serious injury and child abuse.
The case stems from an incident that occurred on May 30, 2014, when White called Mercer County 911 and stated that his infant son had turned blue and stopped breathing.
The 5-month-old child was transported by the Princeton Rescue Squad to Princeton Community Hospital, where a CT scan discovered a subdural hematoma on his brain, according to Clemons' criminal complaint.
The infant was transferred to Women and Children’s Hospital in Charleston where physicians determined that he had been shaken. As a result of being shaken, he had tears on the inside and outside of his retinas and was unable to see.
It was also determined that the baby had left lateral rib fractures on four ribs, Clemons said. The baby had permanent brain damage as a result of the incident.
Clemons obtained a statement from White and was told that on May 30 he was alone with the infant because his biological mother, Christina Bolin, 21, was working at a local motel. White said he had been living with Bolin and the infant since he was released from jail in April 2014.
White stated that the infant had been sick “for a couple of weeks,” and that approximately a week and a half prior to the infant being hospitalized, he had been tossing the infant up in the air and the infant “hit his soft spot on a board,” Clemons said. White also said that at approximately 5:30 a.m. on May 30, 2014, the infant woke up screaming and had "puked" all over himself.
White told Clemons that the infant "quit breathing, went limp, and his eyes rolled back in his head," according to the criminal complaint.
White advised that he “shook him a little” to try and get the infant breathing again and poured cold water on his back, Clemons said in the criminal complaint.
"His excuse for shaking the baby was that he was trying to revive him," Clemons said Wednesday. However, she noted that medical research has shown that "whoever the baby goes limp with is the one who has shaken the baby. It's an immediate reaction after the shaking."
Clemons said the infant's symptoms, including lethargy, vomiting and seizures, are consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Bolin was arrested last week on a charge of child neglect resulting in serious injury.
Clemons said she was referred to the investigation by a Mercer County Child Protective Service worker. Clemons was advised that Bolin and White had three other children along with the infant, and that their parental rights to these children had been terminated.
Clemons was also informed that Bolin had physical custody of the infant, but the state had legal custody and Bolin was on an improvement period. White was not supposed to be around the infant unsupervised.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Dad arrested for abusing 7-week-old baby; infant has multiple skull fractures (Brooke County, West Virginia)
Dad is identified as CHRISTOPHER KINKER.
http://www.wtov9.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wtov_follansbee-father-arrested-child-abuse-case-6778.shtml
Follansbee father arrested in child abuse case
Updated: Thursday, December 11 2014, 05:19 PM EST
BROOKE COUNTY, W.Va. – A Follansbee father is in jail and his 7-week-old baby is in bad shape at a Pittsburgh hospital after an alleged child abuse incident.
Christopher Kinker, 21, is facing child abuse charges resulting in injury for what investigators say he did to his own baby. According to the criminal complaint filed with the magistrate, emergency crews were called to Kinker's home on Banfield Avenue last Friday after a call for help for an infant who wasn't breathing. The 7-week old was rushed to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, where doctors made a startling discovery.
According to court papers, the child, had "multiple skull fractures and other injuries," including "multiple broken ribs, which were in the process of healing."
The investigator also noted in the complaint that when asked, Kinker admitted to shaking the child's bassinet repeatedly because the baby wouldn't stop crying.
He's being held on $50,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
http://www.wtov9.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wtov_follansbee-father-arrested-child-abuse-case-6778.shtml
Follansbee father arrested in child abuse case
Updated: Thursday, December 11 2014, 05:19 PM EST
BROOKE COUNTY, W.Va. – A Follansbee father is in jail and his 7-week-old baby is in bad shape at a Pittsburgh hospital after an alleged child abuse incident.
Christopher Kinker, 21, is facing child abuse charges resulting in injury for what investigators say he did to his own baby. According to the criminal complaint filed with the magistrate, emergency crews were called to Kinker's home on Banfield Avenue last Friday after a call for help for an infant who wasn't breathing. The 7-week old was rushed to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, where doctors made a startling discovery.
According to court papers, the child, had "multiple skull fractures and other injuries," including "multiple broken ribs, which were in the process of healing."
The investigator also noted in the complaint that when asked, Kinker admitted to shaking the child's bassinet repeatedly because the baby wouldn't stop crying.
He's being held on $50,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Dad charged with abusing, fracturing skull of 4-month-old baby; threatened to kill mom if she told anyone (Winfield, West Virginia)
Four-Month Old Hurt, Father Charged with Abuse
Updated: Tue 9:54 PM, Nov 25, 2014
By: Anna Baxter
On Saturday, Jeremy Walker, 33, of Winfield, was arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in injury and child abuse creating risk of injury.
PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A father from Putnam County is facing charges after his baby was taken to the hospital with a head injury.
On Friday, Jeremy Walker, 33, of Winfield, was arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in injury and child abuse creating risk of injury.
Walker and the child's mother, took their four-month-old to CAMC Women and Children's Hospital on Oct. 29. As of Tuesday night, the baby was staying with family and awaiting surgery.
According to the criminal complaint, the baby arrived at the hospital with a skull fracture and her parents told Putnam County Sheriff's Deputies that their three year old son may have fallen off the couch onto the baby the night before.
The child had no prior medical issues, according to the complaint.
Deputies say a doctor determined that the child suffered "abusive head trauma" that could not have been caused by a 3-year-old falling on a 4-month-old. According to the complaint, the doctor suggested "the victim was hit or struck in a way that required an elevated amount of force to cause the level of injury the victim received."
In an another interview with the child's mother on Nov. 20, deputies say the mother admitted that she lied at the hospital when she brought her baby to get checked out.
According to the criminal complaint, the mother says on Oct. 29 she was lying in bed with her two other children when she woke up to Walker screaming. The mother told deputies that when she walked into the living room she saw Walker standing with an ax handle and her baby was in a car seat, according to the complaint.
Deputies say the mother noticed her baby had a head injury and she appeared limp. The mother told deputies Walker continued to carry on and told her she wasn't allowed to call 911 or family for assistance.
According to the complaint, the mother claims that Walker told her not to tell anyone what happened and threatened to kill her if she did. Deputies say Walker used a Play Station 4 to research head injuries and told her what to tell investigators and medical staff when they took the baby to the hospital. She says his plan was to suggest that their son fell on the baby.
Walker is in jail on a $250,000 bond. A spokesperson at Western Regional Jail tells WSAZ he was picked up on a warrant in Wayne County.
He's expected to be in court on Dec. 2 in Putnam County Magistrate Court.
Updated: Tue 9:54 PM, Nov 25, 2014
By: Anna Baxter
On Saturday, Jeremy Walker, 33, of Winfield, was arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in injury and child abuse creating risk of injury.
PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A father from Putnam County is facing charges after his baby was taken to the hospital with a head injury.
On Friday, Jeremy Walker, 33, of Winfield, was arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in injury and child abuse creating risk of injury.
Walker and the child's mother, took their four-month-old to CAMC Women and Children's Hospital on Oct. 29. As of Tuesday night, the baby was staying with family and awaiting surgery.
According to the criminal complaint, the baby arrived at the hospital with a skull fracture and her parents told Putnam County Sheriff's Deputies that their three year old son may have fallen off the couch onto the baby the night before.
The child had no prior medical issues, according to the complaint.
Deputies say a doctor determined that the child suffered "abusive head trauma" that could not have been caused by a 3-year-old falling on a 4-month-old. According to the complaint, the doctor suggested "the victim was hit or struck in a way that required an elevated amount of force to cause the level of injury the victim received."
In an another interview with the child's mother on Nov. 20, deputies say the mother admitted that she lied at the hospital when she brought her baby to get checked out.
According to the criminal complaint, the mother says on Oct. 29 she was lying in bed with her two other children when she woke up to Walker screaming. The mother told deputies that when she walked into the living room she saw Walker standing with an ax handle and her baby was in a car seat, according to the complaint.
Deputies say the mother noticed her baby had a head injury and she appeared limp. The mother told deputies Walker continued to carry on and told her she wasn't allowed to call 911 or family for assistance.
According to the complaint, the mother claims that Walker told her not to tell anyone what happened and threatened to kill her if she did. Deputies say Walker used a Play Station 4 to research head injuries and told her what to tell investigators and medical staff when they took the baby to the hospital. She says his plan was to suggest that their son fell on the baby.
Walker is in jail on a $250,000 bond. A spokesperson at Western Regional Jail tells WSAZ he was picked up on a warrant in Wayne County.
He's expected to be in court on Dec. 2 in Putnam County Magistrate Court.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Dad ruled competent to stand trial in death of 5-week-old son; parents had just separated and baby killed during father's visitation (Winfield, West Virginia)
Still doing case updates on the killer dad and custody lists. This update comes from last summer.
Dad ROBERT JEREMY SMITH is accused of killing his 5-week-old son during visitation. The parents had separated.
Though the father has a typical cover story regarding the boy's death (he "dropped" him), that doesn't exactly explain why the police found a bloody hammer in the house. Or why the baby had abrasions on his forehead and multiple skull fractures. Or why Dad cut his own throat in an apparent suicide attempt. Or why the baby's body was found in the back seat of a car.
Notice that Smith's own mother filed a domestic violence petition to gain custody of his first child (from an earlier relationship) when that child showed up at the hospital with a "suspicious" injury. The mother's mother also claimed that Smith could be "controlling" and "violent."
Of course that petition was dismissed.
http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140628/GZ01/140629340
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Evaluation says Hurricane man accused of killing infant son competent to stand trial
By Ryan Quinn, Staff writer
WINFIELD, W.Va. — A psychiatric evaluation of the Hurricane man accused of killing his 5-week-old son has concluded that he’s competent to stand trial and states that he has “indicated a desire to defend himself and be judged not guilty.”
The evaluation, filed in Putnam County Circuit Court on Thursday, states that Robert Jeremy Smith said he wouldn’t consider a plea bargain because it would be an admission of guilt, but “later entertained the possibility of admitting to certain charges that did directly imply he intentionally harmed the child.”
Smith, 33, of Shank Avenue, is charged with death of a child by a parent as a result of child abuse. His son, Madden, was found dead in the back seat of a car on Venable Avenue, in Kanawha City, on May 21.
Smith also was there, with his throat cut — police said he apparently attempted suicide.Smith told police that Madden died after he accidentally dropped him from about chest-high after picking him up with his bad right arm. The evaluation notes that Smith was diagnosed with arm muscle atrophy in March.
“I urge people not to form a judgment too quickly in this case,” Shawn Bayliss, Smith’s attorney, told the Gazette-Mail on Thursday. “We have no idea what the evidence is going to show, but we believe it’s going to show that this was an accidental trauma, not an intentional or nefarious act.”
Bayliss said the situation is hard on every member of Smith’s family.
The report states that Smith doesn’t have a mental disease or defect and that he understands the proceedings against him and can rationally consult with his attorney. It also says Smith didn’t lack substantial capacity to understand his actions at the time of the alleged offense.
Huntington psychiatrist and neurologist Dr. Bobby Miller II performed the evaluation.
Bayliss referred Smith to Miller to “provide information regarding any psychiatric diagnosis, the examinee’s mental status, and forensic psychiatry opinions regarding the issue of competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and/or diminished capacity.”
The evaluation states that Smith denied that he was intoxicated at the time of the child’s death. He told police, according to a criminal complaint, that he had been watching Madden at his mother’s home when he picked the child up to change his diaper and accidentally dropped him. Smith said Madden began gasping for air, and then Smith couldn’t find a pulse. He said he attempted CPR but was unable to revive the boy, and that he shook the baby.
The complaint states that Madden had abrasions on his forehead when examined by paramedics, and appeared to have suffered multiple skull fractures.
Police said they found a hammer in the house with blood on it. The evaluation states that Smith “offered the possibility that more injuries would have occurred during his vigorous attempts of resuscitation while the child was on a hard surface.”
Smith said he is an unlikely person to harm a child because his father was murdered.
“He had purposed himself to be a super father,” the report states. “Between Mr. Smith and his wife they had 7 children including three children under the age of 1 from his current marriage.”
Smith said stress in his relationship with his wife included financial problems and the fact that one of their children was still in the hospital after being born with her intestines outside her body. He said they had decided to separate and live with their parents.
The evaluation states that Smith previously was treated at a Prestera Center in Charleston for depression and a three-year addiction to prescription pain medication. He said he attempted suicide once before the incident but that he’s not currently suicidal. He is under psychiatric care at the Western Regional Jail.
A March medical record said, “Depression with anxiety was noted to be a chronic problem” and that Smith “reported severe symptoms that occurred daily in his right arm” and had been complaining about weakness there since January 2013. In 2011, he was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, major depressive disorder and opioid abuse.
The report states that West Virginia Child Protective Services got an anonymous report in May that Smith was abusing drugs.
It also states that, in 2009, Smith and Megan Haynes, who is not Smith’s current wife, brought their first child, Maddox, to the hospital with what was “noted to be a suspicious injury.”
“A protection plan was initiated and the parents were not allowed to be alone with the child,” the report states. The mothers of Smith and Haynes were placed on the parenting plan for Maddox, and Haynes’ mother “stated that she did not like Mr. Smith because he was controlling and could be violent.” However, “Despite the family dynamics and allegations, no maltreatment was substantiated.”
Smith’s mother tried to gain custody of Maddox by filing a domestic violence petition against Smith alleging that the child was in grave danger, but the DVP was dismissed.
Smith has a bail hearing set for 3:30 p.m. on July 9.
Dad ROBERT JEREMY SMITH is accused of killing his 5-week-old son during visitation. The parents had separated.
Though the father has a typical cover story regarding the boy's death (he "dropped" him), that doesn't exactly explain why the police found a bloody hammer in the house. Or why the baby had abrasions on his forehead and multiple skull fractures. Or why Dad cut his own throat in an apparent suicide attempt. Or why the baby's body was found in the back seat of a car.
Notice that Smith's own mother filed a domestic violence petition to gain custody of his first child (from an earlier relationship) when that child showed up at the hospital with a "suspicious" injury. The mother's mother also claimed that Smith could be "controlling" and "violent."
Of course that petition was dismissed.
http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140628/GZ01/140629340
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Evaluation says Hurricane man accused of killing infant son competent to stand trial
By Ryan Quinn, Staff writer
WINFIELD, W.Va. — A psychiatric evaluation of the Hurricane man accused of killing his 5-week-old son has concluded that he’s competent to stand trial and states that he has “indicated a desire to defend himself and be judged not guilty.”
The evaluation, filed in Putnam County Circuit Court on Thursday, states that Robert Jeremy Smith said he wouldn’t consider a plea bargain because it would be an admission of guilt, but “later entertained the possibility of admitting to certain charges that did directly imply he intentionally harmed the child.”
Smith, 33, of Shank Avenue, is charged with death of a child by a parent as a result of child abuse. His son, Madden, was found dead in the back seat of a car on Venable Avenue, in Kanawha City, on May 21.
Smith also was there, with his throat cut — police said he apparently attempted suicide.Smith told police that Madden died after he accidentally dropped him from about chest-high after picking him up with his bad right arm. The evaluation notes that Smith was diagnosed with arm muscle atrophy in March.
“I urge people not to form a judgment too quickly in this case,” Shawn Bayliss, Smith’s attorney, told the Gazette-Mail on Thursday. “We have no idea what the evidence is going to show, but we believe it’s going to show that this was an accidental trauma, not an intentional or nefarious act.”
Bayliss said the situation is hard on every member of Smith’s family.
The report states that Smith doesn’t have a mental disease or defect and that he understands the proceedings against him and can rationally consult with his attorney. It also says Smith didn’t lack substantial capacity to understand his actions at the time of the alleged offense.
Huntington psychiatrist and neurologist Dr. Bobby Miller II performed the evaluation.
Bayliss referred Smith to Miller to “provide information regarding any psychiatric diagnosis, the examinee’s mental status, and forensic psychiatry opinions regarding the issue of competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and/or diminished capacity.”
The evaluation states that Smith denied that he was intoxicated at the time of the child’s death. He told police, according to a criminal complaint, that he had been watching Madden at his mother’s home when he picked the child up to change his diaper and accidentally dropped him. Smith said Madden began gasping for air, and then Smith couldn’t find a pulse. He said he attempted CPR but was unable to revive the boy, and that he shook the baby.
The complaint states that Madden had abrasions on his forehead when examined by paramedics, and appeared to have suffered multiple skull fractures.
Police said they found a hammer in the house with blood on it. The evaluation states that Smith “offered the possibility that more injuries would have occurred during his vigorous attempts of resuscitation while the child was on a hard surface.”
Smith said he is an unlikely person to harm a child because his father was murdered.
“He had purposed himself to be a super father,” the report states. “Between Mr. Smith and his wife they had 7 children including three children under the age of 1 from his current marriage.”
Smith said stress in his relationship with his wife included financial problems and the fact that one of their children was still in the hospital after being born with her intestines outside her body. He said they had decided to separate and live with their parents.
The evaluation states that Smith previously was treated at a Prestera Center in Charleston for depression and a three-year addiction to prescription pain medication. He said he attempted suicide once before the incident but that he’s not currently suicidal. He is under psychiatric care at the Western Regional Jail.
A March medical record said, “Depression with anxiety was noted to be a chronic problem” and that Smith “reported severe symptoms that occurred daily in his right arm” and had been complaining about weakness there since January 2013. In 2011, he was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, major depressive disorder and opioid abuse.
The report states that West Virginia Child Protective Services got an anonymous report in May that Smith was abusing drugs.
It also states that, in 2009, Smith and Megan Haynes, who is not Smith’s current wife, brought their first child, Maddox, to the hospital with what was “noted to be a suspicious injury.”
“A protection plan was initiated and the parents were not allowed to be alone with the child,” the report states. The mothers of Smith and Haynes were placed on the parenting plan for Maddox, and Haynes’ mother “stated that she did not like Mr. Smith because he was controlling and could be violent.” However, “Despite the family dynamics and allegations, no maltreatment was substantiated.”
Smith’s mother tried to gain custody of Maddox by filing a domestic violence petition against Smith alleging that the child was in grave danger, but the DVP was dismissed.
Smith has a bail hearing set for 3:30 p.m. on July 9.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Dad charged wih causing serious bodily harm to 4-month-old daughter; mom has lost custody, though apparently not charged with a crime (Hurricane, West Virginia)
This, unfortunately, happens a lot. Even though there appears to be no accusation that the mother engaged in child abuse, she loses custody anyway. Mothers are always being held responsible for the behavior of others (especially fathers), even though they typically don't have the authority or the resources to kick the father out of the picture. In fact, mothers are actively PUNISHED for trying to do so, and are labeled "liars" or "alienators" who are "depriving" their kids of their father.
Dad is identified as PAUL PAROG.
http://www.wchstv.com/news/features/eyewitness-news/stories/Putnam-Father-Charged-With-Child-Abuse-Admitted-To-Shaking-Baby-41932.shtml#.VCGb6NEtDb0
Putnam Father Charged With Child Abuse; State Police Says He Admits To Shaking Baby Updated: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 | Taisha Walker, Kaylin E. Searles
HURRICANE, W.Va. -- A father from Hurricane has been accused of injuring his baby.
West Virginia State Police said Paul Parog is responsible for causing serious bodily harm to his 4-month old daughter, not reporting the incident for several days and then lying about it.
Dan Erwin has lived on Fifh Street for 30 years. He can tell you a little about everyone who lives on his block, including the quiet family across the street.
"They sort of keep to themselves," Erwin said. "They do speak when you drive by." Erwin said Ashley and Paul Parog would often bring their daughter Lillian Grace outside.
Erwin said about two weeks ago, they just stopped.
"Recently, I haven't seen the baby and we were wondering why," Erwin said.
There was something else Erwin noticed.
"There was an ambulance over there about 10 days, two weeks ago about 4 o'clock in the morning because we saw the lights flashing," Erwin said. "The couple was gone for a couple days and then the couple came back and since then we haven't seen the baby."
State troopers said Paul Parog didn't immediately seek medical help for his infant on Sept. 3. Dr. Joan Phillips, a Charleston pediatrician, sounded the alarm two days later when she noticed the baby was experiencing seizures, had head trauma and signs of shaken baby syndrome. Parog told troopers he fell on the floor with the infant, knocking her unconscious. Troopers said he panicked and shook the baby.
Lt. Michael Baylous said Phillips' observations were key.
"Her statement to us helped provide probable cause and when you get probable cause it's hardly based on one particular piece of evidence," Baylous said.
Troopers said Parog initially lied about how the infant became injured but later came clean. The 22-year-old father was arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in injury.
Erwin said it just goes to show you never know what goes on behind closed doors.
Lillian Grace has been released from the hospital and is now in the custody of her grandmother. The 4-month-old is now eating on her own, but troopers said she can't see and has trouble holding her head.
Parog is in jail on a $50,000 bond. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ HURRICANE, W.Va. -- A Putnam County man was arrested on a child abuse charge for allegedly shaking his 4-month-old baby.
Paul Anthony Parog, 23, is being charged with child abuse resulting in injury, according to a criminal complaint from Putnam Magistrate Court.
State troopers said Parog initially told them he tripped while carrying the baby, and she hit her head on the arm rest of a couch. Dr. Joan Phillips, a pediatrician at Women’s and Children’s Hospital, treated the baby and said the injuries sustained were too severe for Parog’s explanation.
State Police said Parog later admitted to troopers in a recorded confession that he lied about the way the baby sustained her injuries. Parog said that the two had fallen on the floor, knocking the baby unconscious. He then said that he panicked and shook the baby.
Parog said that he did not seek medical assistance right away because he was afraid of getting into trouble.
Parog’s is being held in the Western Regional Jail. His bond is set at $50,000.
Dad is identified as PAUL PAROG.
http://www.wchstv.com/news/features/eyewitness-news/stories/Putnam-Father-Charged-With-Child-Abuse-Admitted-To-Shaking-Baby-41932.shtml#.VCGb6NEtDb0
Putnam Father Charged With Child Abuse; State Police Says He Admits To Shaking Baby Updated: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 | Taisha Walker, Kaylin E. Searles
HURRICANE, W.Va. -- A father from Hurricane has been accused of injuring his baby.
West Virginia State Police said Paul Parog is responsible for causing serious bodily harm to his 4-month old daughter, not reporting the incident for several days and then lying about it.
Dan Erwin has lived on Fifh Street for 30 years. He can tell you a little about everyone who lives on his block, including the quiet family across the street.
"They sort of keep to themselves," Erwin said. "They do speak when you drive by." Erwin said Ashley and Paul Parog would often bring their daughter Lillian Grace outside.
Erwin said about two weeks ago, they just stopped.
"Recently, I haven't seen the baby and we were wondering why," Erwin said.
There was something else Erwin noticed.
"There was an ambulance over there about 10 days, two weeks ago about 4 o'clock in the morning because we saw the lights flashing," Erwin said. "The couple was gone for a couple days and then the couple came back and since then we haven't seen the baby."
State troopers said Paul Parog didn't immediately seek medical help for his infant on Sept. 3. Dr. Joan Phillips, a Charleston pediatrician, sounded the alarm two days later when she noticed the baby was experiencing seizures, had head trauma and signs of shaken baby syndrome. Parog told troopers he fell on the floor with the infant, knocking her unconscious. Troopers said he panicked and shook the baby.
Lt. Michael Baylous said Phillips' observations were key.
"Her statement to us helped provide probable cause and when you get probable cause it's hardly based on one particular piece of evidence," Baylous said.
Troopers said Parog initially lied about how the infant became injured but later came clean. The 22-year-old father was arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in injury.
Erwin said it just goes to show you never know what goes on behind closed doors.
Lillian Grace has been released from the hospital and is now in the custody of her grandmother. The 4-month-old is now eating on her own, but troopers said she can't see and has trouble holding her head.
Parog is in jail on a $50,000 bond. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ HURRICANE, W.Va. -- A Putnam County man was arrested on a child abuse charge for allegedly shaking his 4-month-old baby.
Paul Anthony Parog, 23, is being charged with child abuse resulting in injury, according to a criminal complaint from Putnam Magistrate Court.
State troopers said Parog initially told them he tripped while carrying the baby, and she hit her head on the arm rest of a couch. Dr. Joan Phillips, a pediatrician at Women’s and Children’s Hospital, treated the baby and said the injuries sustained were too severe for Parog’s explanation.
State Police said Parog later admitted to troopers in a recorded confession that he lied about the way the baby sustained her injuries. Parog said that the two had fallen on the floor, knocking the baby unconscious. He then said that he panicked and shook the baby.
Parog said that he did not seek medical assistance right away because he was afraid of getting into trouble.
Parog’s is being held in the Western Regional Jail. His bond is set at $50,000.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Dad admits killing newborn son, burying baby's body at campsite (Moorefield, West Virginia)
Dad is identified as JOSEPH ALLEN CHRISTY.
http://www.times-news.com/local/x611404577/Infant-s-body-found-after-child-s-father-leads-police-to-campsite
July 7, 2014
Infant’s body found after child’s father leads police to campsite
Missouri man admits killing newborn in Hardy County
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
— MOOREFIELD, W. Va. — A Missouri man admitted to police he had killed his infant son and then led investigators a short time later to a Hardy County campsite where he had buried the baby.
West Virginia State Police at Romney said the body of Ashter James Christy, 26 days old, was secured by Hardy County Medical Examiner Jeff Fraley and then taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Charleston for a full autopsy.
The infant’s body was found after the child’s father, Joseph Allen Christy, 32, of Marysville, Mo., led state police and a Morgantown Police detective to the shallow grave in an unspecified Hardy County campsite where Christy had buried his son. The gruesome discovery was made at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Preliminary investigation has led police to believe the “focus will be towards child neglect resulting in the death and possible murder of Ashter James Christy,” read a news release from state police at Romney.
It was about 5 p.m., Saturday when State Police Sgt. M.D. Anderson and Trooper First Class C.S. Hartman of the Moorefield-Petersburg detachment were contacted by state police at Morgantown concerning a possible child death. The information was developed after the parents — identified as Joseph Allen Christy and Summer Lynn Snow McDaniel, 26, also of Marysville — were arrested after attempting to flee from law enforcement in the Morgantown area of Monongahela County, according to state police.
The suspects had four children, ages 11, 7, 4 and 2, in their vehicle, resulting in the arrest of Christy and McDaniel on felony child neglect charges.
During the investigation, there arose the allegation that the father, Christy, had killed an infant child.
In an interview by police, Christy reportedly confessed that he had killed the couple’s infant son at the campsite in Hardy County where the victim’s body was found Saturday.
It was early evening when Christy led Trooper Hartman, Sgt. Anderson, Sgt. J.P. Branham III, Cpl. R.M. Gaskins and Morgantown Police Detective Larry Hasley to the location where he had buried his infant son.
No further details from the investigation were available Sunday evening.
Requests for further information about the investigation were being referred to Lt. M.T. Baylous, state police public relations officer.
http://www.times-news.com/local/x611404577/Infant-s-body-found-after-child-s-father-leads-police-to-campsite
July 7, 2014
Infant’s body found after child’s father leads police to campsite
Missouri man admits killing newborn in Hardy County
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
— MOOREFIELD, W. Va. — A Missouri man admitted to police he had killed his infant son and then led investigators a short time later to a Hardy County campsite where he had buried the baby.
West Virginia State Police at Romney said the body of Ashter James Christy, 26 days old, was secured by Hardy County Medical Examiner Jeff Fraley and then taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Charleston for a full autopsy.
The infant’s body was found after the child’s father, Joseph Allen Christy, 32, of Marysville, Mo., led state police and a Morgantown Police detective to the shallow grave in an unspecified Hardy County campsite where Christy had buried his son. The gruesome discovery was made at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Preliminary investigation has led police to believe the “focus will be towards child neglect resulting in the death and possible murder of Ashter James Christy,” read a news release from state police at Romney.
It was about 5 p.m., Saturday when State Police Sgt. M.D. Anderson and Trooper First Class C.S. Hartman of the Moorefield-Petersburg detachment were contacted by state police at Morgantown concerning a possible child death. The information was developed after the parents — identified as Joseph Allen Christy and Summer Lynn Snow McDaniel, 26, also of Marysville — were arrested after attempting to flee from law enforcement in the Morgantown area of Monongahela County, according to state police.
The suspects had four children, ages 11, 7, 4 and 2, in their vehicle, resulting in the arrest of Christy and McDaniel on felony child neglect charges.
During the investigation, there arose the allegation that the father, Christy, had killed an infant child.
In an interview by police, Christy reportedly confessed that he had killed the couple’s infant son at the campsite in Hardy County where the victim’s body was found Saturday.
It was early evening when Christy led Trooper Hartman, Sgt. Anderson, Sgt. J.P. Branham III, Cpl. R.M. Gaskins and Morgantown Police Detective Larry Hasley to the location where he had buried his infant son.
No further details from the investigation were available Sunday evening.
Requests for further information about the investigation were being referred to Lt. M.T. Baylous, state police public relations officer.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Drugged out dad found passed out at motel, charged with child neglect; what happened to the mothers of these children? (Hurricane, West Virginia)
Dad is identified as ANDRAISE ANTHONY CLARK. But lots of unanswered questions. Why was this drugged-out mess in a motel with two kids, one his son and one his nephew? What happened to the mothers of these kids? Why is his son in the care of CPS? Did Dad have custody? What "family member" took the nephew?
http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Father-Passes-Out-in-Motel-Charged-with-Child-Neglect-265782511.html
Father Passes Out in Motel, Charged with Child Neglect
Posted: Thu 11:33 PM, Jul 03, 2014
By: Andrew Colegrove
As the rest of the country celebrates freedom, one father will be behind bars.
HURRICANE, W.Va. (WSAZ) – As the rest of the country celebrates freedom, one father will be behind bars.
Andraise Anthony Clark from St. Albans is charged with child neglect creating risk of injury.
Heather Huffman has been staying at the Budget Inn Motel in Hurricane.
Thursday she saw two little boys, 5 and 4 years old, playing by themselves outside.
"The kids just kept running back and forth on the balcony," Huffman said. “They were dirty. It was apparent they were dirty. They hadn't been taken care of."
One of the boys was smoking a cigarette.
Amanda Edwards is the motel manager. She went in their room and found Clark, the father of one of the boys and uncle of the other, passed out in bed.
Hurricane police say when they arrived, Clark couldn't even hold his head up or answer basic questions. They found a bag of Xanex pills, Clark was covered in blood, and feces were on the motel room floor.
"Everyone was emotional, including myself," Huffman said. "One of the little boys had sunburned so severely it was literally chafed and blistered and peeling on his back."
The manager says one of the boys kept clinging to her.
"The smallest one would not let me go,” Edwards said. “He was scared, almost like this was familiar to him. That's what broke my heart about it more than anything."
Clark could face 1 to 5 years in jail or a $3,000 fine.
CPS took his child into custody. The other child was released to family.
Police say they're not sure why Clark was covered in blood.
Police say that motel has had a reputation of drug abuse.
New management took over in January. Edwards says they've taken steps to improve their image.
"We've went to great lengths to make sure the guests feel safe and comfortable," Edwards said. "We don't want the drug users who'd been staying here to feel like this is a place to call home."
Edwards says this was the first such incident they’ve had in nearly a month.
http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Father-Passes-Out-in-Motel-Charged-with-Child-Neglect-265782511.html
Father Passes Out in Motel, Charged with Child Neglect
Posted: Thu 11:33 PM, Jul 03, 2014
By: Andrew Colegrove
As the rest of the country celebrates freedom, one father will be behind bars.
HURRICANE, W.Va. (WSAZ) – As the rest of the country celebrates freedom, one father will be behind bars.
Andraise Anthony Clark from St. Albans is charged with child neglect creating risk of injury.
Heather Huffman has been staying at the Budget Inn Motel in Hurricane.
Thursday she saw two little boys, 5 and 4 years old, playing by themselves outside.
"The kids just kept running back and forth on the balcony," Huffman said. “They were dirty. It was apparent they were dirty. They hadn't been taken care of."
One of the boys was smoking a cigarette.
Amanda Edwards is the motel manager. She went in their room and found Clark, the father of one of the boys and uncle of the other, passed out in bed.
Hurricane police say when they arrived, Clark couldn't even hold his head up or answer basic questions. They found a bag of Xanex pills, Clark was covered in blood, and feces were on the motel room floor.
"Everyone was emotional, including myself," Huffman said. "One of the little boys had sunburned so severely it was literally chafed and blistered and peeling on his back."
The manager says one of the boys kept clinging to her.
"The smallest one would not let me go,” Edwards said. “He was scared, almost like this was familiar to him. That's what broke my heart about it more than anything."
Clark could face 1 to 5 years in jail or a $3,000 fine.
CPS took his child into custody. The other child was released to family.
Police say they're not sure why Clark was covered in blood.
Police say that motel has had a reputation of drug abuse.
New management took over in January. Edwards says they've taken steps to improve their image.
"We've went to great lengths to make sure the guests feel safe and comfortable," Edwards said. "We don't want the drug users who'd been staying here to feel like this is a place to call home."
Edwards says this was the first such incident they’ve had in nearly a month.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Dad charged with abusing 4-month-old son, apparently during weekend visitation (Huntington, West Virginia)
It isn't spelled out clearly, but this sure sounds like weekend visitation involving a never married father.
Visitation with infants is a BAD idea. Babies need a consistent caregiver. They don't need bouncing around from house to house, which leads to emotional problems (at "best") or abuse like in this case.
Given that these guys are really little more than sperm donors, it is asinine to presume that they have the same love and commitment to the child as a father who is married to the mother, loves the mother, and lives in the home.
http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Father-Charged-with-Child-Abuse-Invovling-Infant-Son-264447181.html
Father Charged with Child Abuse Involving Infant Son
Updated: Wed 9:15 AM, Jun 25, 2014
By: WSAZ News Staff
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Huntington man been charged with child abuse causing serious injury in an incident involving his 4 ½ month old son, according to Huntington Police.
Shawn Graves, 20, was arrested Tuesday afternoon.
According to the criminal complaint the infant was in Graves’ care when he was transported by EMS to a Huntington hospital where the medical staff determined the baby sustained a “non accidental trauma.” A CT scan then revealed a brain bleed.
Graves told police the infant was normal when his mother dropped him off on Saturday.
According to the criminal complaint, Graves admitted to shaking the baby “back and forth causing the child’s unsupported head to jerk back and forward.”
Graves is being held in the Western Regional Jail.
Visitation with infants is a BAD idea. Babies need a consistent caregiver. They don't need bouncing around from house to house, which leads to emotional problems (at "best") or abuse like in this case.
Given that these guys are really little more than sperm donors, it is asinine to presume that they have the same love and commitment to the child as a father who is married to the mother, loves the mother, and lives in the home.
http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Father-Charged-with-Child-Abuse-Invovling-Infant-Son-264447181.html
Father Charged with Child Abuse Involving Infant Son
Updated: Wed 9:15 AM, Jun 25, 2014
By: WSAZ News Staff
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Huntington man been charged with child abuse causing serious injury in an incident involving his 4 ½ month old son, according to Huntington Police.
Shawn Graves, 20, was arrested Tuesday afternoon.
According to the criminal complaint the infant was in Graves’ care when he was transported by EMS to a Huntington hospital where the medical staff determined the baby sustained a “non accidental trauma.” A CT scan then revealed a brain bleed.
Graves told police the infant was normal when his mother dropped him off on Saturday.
According to the criminal complaint, Graves admitted to shaking the baby “back and forth causing the child’s unsupported head to jerk back and forward.”
Graves is being held in the Western Regional Jail.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Dad arrested for killing 8-week-old son (Bluefield, West Virginia)
Dad is identified as CASSIDY BENJAMIN BYRD.
http://woay.com/News.aspx?nid=12643
UPDATE: Wanted Bluefield father arrested for allegedly killing eight week-old son
Local - 6/18/2014 12:40 PM by Rebecca Turco
UPDATE: Cassidy Benjamin Byrd's bond was set to $100,000. He is in Southern Regional Jail. ------------------------
ORIGINAL: 6/18/14, 9:31 a.m.
BLUEFIELD - A Mercer County man wanted for the death of his eight week-old son was arrested after several police agencies conducted a nearly two week-long manhunt.
Cassidy Benjamin Byrd, 23, of Bluefield is charged with child abuse by a parent resulting in death.
Bluefield Police Detective K. L. Adams said authorities found and apprehended Byrd at his parents' house on Princeton Avenue Tuesday night following a tip.
Adams said the investigation began April 5, when Byrd was home alone with his son and called 911 stating his child was not breathing. The baby was transported to Bluefield Regional Medical Center and pronounced dead on arrival, according to Adams.
Police sent the remains to the West Virginia Medical Examiner's Office and issued a warrant for
Byrd's arrest on June 6, when the autopsy results reportedly showed that a strike to the baby's head had killed him. Byrd is in Southern Regional Jail awaiting arraignment.
http://woay.com/News.aspx?nid=12643
UPDATE: Wanted Bluefield father arrested for allegedly killing eight week-old son
Local - 6/18/2014 12:40 PM by Rebecca Turco
UPDATE: Cassidy Benjamin Byrd's bond was set to $100,000. He is in Southern Regional Jail. ------------------------
ORIGINAL: 6/18/14, 9:31 a.m.
BLUEFIELD - A Mercer County man wanted for the death of his eight week-old son was arrested after several police agencies conducted a nearly two week-long manhunt.
Cassidy Benjamin Byrd, 23, of Bluefield is charged with child abuse by a parent resulting in death.
Bluefield Police Detective K. L. Adams said authorities found and apprehended Byrd at his parents' house on Princeton Avenue Tuesday night following a tip.
Adams said the investigation began April 5, when Byrd was home alone with his son and called 911 stating his child was not breathing. The baby was transported to Bluefield Regional Medical Center and pronounced dead on arrival, according to Adams.
Police sent the remains to the West Virginia Medical Examiner's Office and issued a warrant for
Byrd's arrest on June 6, when the autopsy results reportedly showed that a strike to the baby's head had killed him. Byrd is in Southern Regional Jail awaiting arraignment.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Dad charged in death of 7-week-old son (Bluefield, West Virginia)
Dad is identified as CASSIDY BYRD.
http://wvmetronews.com/2014/06/10/charges-filed-in-babys-death/
Charges filed in baby’s death
By MetroNews Staff in News | June 10, 2014 at 5:06PM
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Police issued an arrest warrant Tuesday afternoon in connection with the April 5 death of a 7-week-old boy.
Police said the boy’s father, 23-year-old Cassidy Byrd, of Bluefield, has been charged with child abuse resulting in death.
An autopsy revealed the cause of death was a head injury.
http://wvmetronews.com/2014/06/10/charges-filed-in-babys-death/
Charges filed in baby’s death
By MetroNews Staff in News | June 10, 2014 at 5:06PM
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Police issued an arrest warrant Tuesday afternoon in connection with the April 5 death of a 7-week-old boy.
Police said the boy’s father, 23-year-old Cassidy Byrd, of Bluefield, has been charged with child abuse resulting in death.
An autopsy revealed the cause of death was a head injury.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Dad charged in death of 5-week-old son; waited 27 hours after baby injured to call authorities (Putnam County, West Viriginia)
The last paragraph says it all. Dad ROBERT "JEREMY" SMITH should not have been allowed around children at all. And CERTAINLY not as a caretaker.
Why did he have"access" to this baby for so long without direct contact (as opposed to phone contact) with the mother? Was it a custody/visitation situation?
http://www.wsaz.com/news/wvnews/headlines/Father-Charged-in-Sons-Death-Sobs-During-Court-Hearing-261095591.html
Father Charged in Son's Death Sobs During Court Hearing
Updated: Thu 11:50 AM, May 29, 2014
By: Anna Baxter
PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The father charged in connection with his 5-week-old son's death sobbed during a court hearing on Thursday.
Robert "Jeremy" Smith is charged with child abuse resulting in death.
Smith was scheduled to be in court Thursday for his preliminary hearing in Putnam County, but he waived his case to the grand jury.
However, before the hearing ended, Smith's attorney told the magistrate there was no need to lower Smith's bond because he's being held in isolation in jail. Right now, Smith's bond is set for $500,000.
Smith's son, Madden Smith, was found dead in a car in Kanawha City last week. Smith was also in the car with a self inflicted injury.
According to the criminal complaint, at first, Smith told police he dropped the baby, but later admitted to shaking Madden.
Police say Smith said he was watching his son in Hurricane when he heard him crying. The complaint says he went to pick up the boy, but Madden fell floor and was gasping for air.
Smith told police he didn't feel a pulse so he wrapped Madden in a blanket, but didn't call 911 for 27 hours. Smith told police he was scared he would get in trouble, according to the complaint.
Police say Madden died at the home in Hurricane and Smith later drove him to Charleston.
Police say Smith talked to the baby's mother during that time, but never mentioned what happened to their son. Police say Smith also slept during that time.
Police say when they found Madden in the car, he felt malleable to the touch, more so than the typical soft skulls of infants his age, and he had an apparent abrasion on his forehead.
According to the criminal complaint, Madden appeared to have suffered multiple skull fractures.
Also, after Thursday's hearing police took DNA samples from Smith as part of their investigation.
Smith's family attended his court hearing Thursday.
Madden's family wrote in his obituary "Madden may have only lived 47 short days, be he touched the lives of many people!!!"
The family also writes "The only peace we have is knowing Madden has life more abundantly in heaven with Jesus! We will see Madden again soon!" The family held a service Wednesday to honor Madden's life.
Charleston Police say Smith had previously faced two separate child neglect charges, one in Putnam County and one in Kanawha County, and both were dismissed. They say he'd also been convicted of domestic battery in Charleston in 2007.
Why did he have"access" to this baby for so long without direct contact (as opposed to phone contact) with the mother? Was it a custody/visitation situation?
http://www.wsaz.com/news/wvnews/headlines/Father-Charged-in-Sons-Death-Sobs-During-Court-Hearing-261095591.html
Father Charged in Son's Death Sobs During Court Hearing
Updated: Thu 11:50 AM, May 29, 2014
By: Anna Baxter
PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The father charged in connection with his 5-week-old son's death sobbed during a court hearing on Thursday.
Robert "Jeremy" Smith is charged with child abuse resulting in death.
Smith was scheduled to be in court Thursday for his preliminary hearing in Putnam County, but he waived his case to the grand jury.
However, before the hearing ended, Smith's attorney told the magistrate there was no need to lower Smith's bond because he's being held in isolation in jail. Right now, Smith's bond is set for $500,000.
Smith's son, Madden Smith, was found dead in a car in Kanawha City last week. Smith was also in the car with a self inflicted injury.
According to the criminal complaint, at first, Smith told police he dropped the baby, but later admitted to shaking Madden.
Police say Smith said he was watching his son in Hurricane when he heard him crying. The complaint says he went to pick up the boy, but Madden fell floor and was gasping for air.
Smith told police he didn't feel a pulse so he wrapped Madden in a blanket, but didn't call 911 for 27 hours. Smith told police he was scared he would get in trouble, according to the complaint.
Police say Madden died at the home in Hurricane and Smith later drove him to Charleston.
Police say Smith talked to the baby's mother during that time, but never mentioned what happened to their son. Police say Smith also slept during that time.
Police say when they found Madden in the car, he felt malleable to the touch, more so than the typical soft skulls of infants his age, and he had an apparent abrasion on his forehead.
According to the criminal complaint, Madden appeared to have suffered multiple skull fractures.
Also, after Thursday's hearing police took DNA samples from Smith as part of their investigation.
Smith's family attended his court hearing Thursday.
Madden's family wrote in his obituary "Madden may have only lived 47 short days, be he touched the lives of many people!!!"
The family also writes "The only peace we have is knowing Madden has life more abundantly in heaven with Jesus! We will see Madden again soon!" The family held a service Wednesday to honor Madden's life.
Charleston Police say Smith had previously faced two separate child neglect charges, one in Putnam County and one in Kanawha County, and both were dismissed. They say he'd also been convicted of domestic battery in Charleston in 2007.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Recently separated dad charged in death of 5-week-old son; didn't tell anybody baby was dead for 27 hours (Putnam County, West Virginia)
The article doesn't say anything about Dad's past history of abuse, but this scenario is very typical of a controlling abuser. These guys are the most dangerous right after the break up of their relationship or marriage, because they are losing control over their victim(s). This is when women and children are the most likely to be killed. Even if Dad had no (known) history of child abuse, it is not uncommon for these guys to harm or even kill the kids as a way to "punish" Mom. Murder-suicide is a frequent result.
Dad is identified as ROBERT JEREMY SMITH.
http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140522/GZ01/140529728/1419
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Father charged in death of 5-week-old son
By Rusty Marks, Staff writer
A Hurricane man has been charged in the death of a baby found dead Wednesday in the back seat of a car in Kanawha City.
Robert Jeremy Smith, 33, of Shank Avenue in Hurricane, was arraigned by video this morning in Kanawha County Magistrate Court. He is charged with death of a child by a parent as a result of child abuse. Charges were filed in Putnam County, but Smith was arrested in Kanawha County.
According to a criminal complaint, Smith had been caring for his 5-week-old son, Madden A. Smith, at his Shank Avenue home. The infant died on Tuesday.
According to the criminal complaint, Smith first told police he picked the boy up and accidentally dropped him, but later said he had shaken the infant. According to the criminal complaint, Smith realized Madden was dead within minutes, but didn't tell anyone for more than 27 hours because "he was afraid he would get into trouble."
Madden's body was found in the back seat of a red Toyota Corolla at 3815 Venable Ave. on Wednesday afternoon. Robert Smith was also there, with his throat cut. Police said he apparently attempted to take his own life.
Charleston Police Department Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper said Robert Smith had been living in Kanawha City, but recently moved to the Hurricane address. Smith and his wife, Jennifer, had apparently separated recently, Cooper said.
According to the criminal complaint, Smith allegedly told officers who responded to the scene that, "The baby is dead; I killed the baby."
According to the criminal complaint, Madden had apparent abrasions on his forehead when examined by paramedics, and appeared to have suffered multiple skull fractures.
Robert Smith was being held Thursday in Western Regional Jail in lieu of a $500,000 bail. According to the Regional Jail Authority website, Smith is 6 foot 3 inches tall and weighs 270 pounds.
In 2013, Robert and Jennifer Smith faced misdemeanor charges of child neglect creating risk of bodily injury or death. Those charges were later dismissed.
The couple had let their 12-year-old child watch over four other children -- ages 10 years, 5 years, 4 years and 3 months -- while they were away, according to a criminal complaint filed in that case. Police said the 12-year-old wasn’t old enough to watch over the baby.
Dad is identified as ROBERT JEREMY SMITH.
http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140522/GZ01/140529728/1419
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Father charged in death of 5-week-old son
By Rusty Marks, Staff writer
A Hurricane man has been charged in the death of a baby found dead Wednesday in the back seat of a car in Kanawha City.
Robert Jeremy Smith, 33, of Shank Avenue in Hurricane, was arraigned by video this morning in Kanawha County Magistrate Court. He is charged with death of a child by a parent as a result of child abuse. Charges were filed in Putnam County, but Smith was arrested in Kanawha County.
According to a criminal complaint, Smith had been caring for his 5-week-old son, Madden A. Smith, at his Shank Avenue home. The infant died on Tuesday.
According to the criminal complaint, Smith first told police he picked the boy up and accidentally dropped him, but later said he had shaken the infant. According to the criminal complaint, Smith realized Madden was dead within minutes, but didn't tell anyone for more than 27 hours because "he was afraid he would get into trouble."
Madden's body was found in the back seat of a red Toyota Corolla at 3815 Venable Ave. on Wednesday afternoon. Robert Smith was also there, with his throat cut. Police said he apparently attempted to take his own life.
Charleston Police Department Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper said Robert Smith had been living in Kanawha City, but recently moved to the Hurricane address. Smith and his wife, Jennifer, had apparently separated recently, Cooper said.
According to the criminal complaint, Smith allegedly told officers who responded to the scene that, "The baby is dead; I killed the baby."
According to the criminal complaint, Madden had apparent abrasions on his forehead when examined by paramedics, and appeared to have suffered multiple skull fractures.
Robert Smith was being held Thursday in Western Regional Jail in lieu of a $500,000 bail. According to the Regional Jail Authority website, Smith is 6 foot 3 inches tall and weighs 270 pounds.
In 2013, Robert and Jennifer Smith faced misdemeanor charges of child neglect creating risk of bodily injury or death. Those charges were later dismissed.
The couple had let their 12-year-old child watch over four other children -- ages 10 years, 5 years, 4 years and 3 months -- while they were away, according to a criminal complaint filed in that case. Police said the 12-year-old wasn’t old enough to watch over the baby.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Dad charged with punching 15-year-old daughter (Beckley, West Virginia)
Dad is identified as NICHOLAS TORRES.
http://www.register-herald.com/latestnews/x493492120/Father-arrested-charged-with-child-abuse-resulting-in-injury
May 6, 2014
http://www.register-herald.com/latestnews/x493492120/Father-arrested-charged-with-child-abuse-resulting-in-injury
May 6, 2014
Father arrested, charged with child abuse resulting in injury
A local man is in jail after police investigated a report of alleged child abuse, according to a press release from the Beckley Police Department.
Nicholas Torres, 39, was arrested Monday and charged with child abuse resulting in injury.
Torres confessed to the crime and said was trying to discipline the 15-year-old victim. He said he used a closed fist to punch her in the ribs, the release said.
The girl was treated at Raleigh General Hospital and released.
Additional charges are pending, the release stated.
Torres is in Southern Regional Jail on $10,000 bond. The teen is in the care of Child Protective Services.
The investigation is being handled by Patrolman James Quesenberry.
Nicholas Torres, 39, was arrested Monday and charged with child abuse resulting in injury.
Torres confessed to the crime and said was trying to discipline the 15-year-old victim. He said he used a closed fist to punch her in the ribs, the release said.
The girl was treated at Raleigh General Hospital and released.
Additional charges are pending, the release stated.
Torres is in Southern Regional Jail on $10,000 bond. The teen is in the care of Child Protective Services.
The investigation is being handled by Patrolman James Quesenberry.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Custodial dad convicted in death of 3-year-old son (Martinsburg, West Virginia)
The non-custodial mom may not have been "mother of the year"--but then we aren't told what she (allegedly) did, are we? Meanwhile, Daddy was clearly worse by any measure, as it does not appear that Mom has a history of torture killings, does she?
So who decided Daddy was the better parent, and why?
Notice that the girlfriend claims that Daddy was violent against her. Chances are that he has a history of domestic violence with the mother as well--but still got custody of vulnerable child. Typical of the fathers rights influence on the courts and social services.
Dad is identified as JAMES N. MAULDIN.
http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/tri_state/west_virginia/berkeley-county-man-charged-with-death-of--year-old/article_11aba224-b6d6-11e3-97ae-001a4bcf6878.html
Berkeley County man charged with death of 3-year-old son found guilty on all counts
Posted: Friday, March 28, 2014 8:07 pm | Updated: 10:55 pm, Fri Mar 28, 2014. Posted on Mar 28, 2014
by Matthew Umstead
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Berkeley County Circuit Court jury on Friday found a man charged with the 2012 New Year’s Day death of his 3-year-old son guilty on all counts.
James N. Mauldin, 22, who is to be sentenced May 29, was convicted of single counts of death of a child by parent, guardian and/or custodian by child abuse, child abuse causing serious bodily injury, malicious assault and presentation of false information regarding a child’s injuries in the death of Kaiwon Connelley.
Mauldin also was convicted of two counts of gross child neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury.
“We’re grateful for the jury verdict,” Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said of the jurors’ findings, which came after about two hours of deliberation.
Mauldin, who was taken into custody upon the conclusion of the trial that began this week, faces a maximum sentence of not less than 17 or more than 70 years in prison, according to sentencing statutes cited by Games-Neely.
23rd Judicial Circuit Judge Michael D. Lorensen formally scheduled the sentencing hearing for Mauldin in place of the trial’s presiding circuit judge, John C. Yoder, who had an afternoon medical appointment.
In a separate trial in November, Jasmine Dawkins, 24, who was Mauldin’s girlfriend at the time of Kaiwon’s death, was convicted on two felony counts of gross child neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury and one misdemeanor count of presentation of false information of a child’s injuries to medical personnel.
Their indictments alleged that the couple falsely stated to authorities that the child fell and struck his head, causing the injuries at their apartment at 214 Joshua Drive near Martinsburg.
Kaiwon had multiple head injuries, including a fractured skull, brain bleeds and severe burns, police have said.
“He was the most (physically) abused child we’ve ever seen in the system,” said Games-Neely, who has served as the county’s prosecuting attorney since 1993.
Dawkins had told police the injuries were the result of Malden punching Kaiwon several times a few days before the boy was hospitalized. She did not report the alleged mistreatment, because she was afraid of being abused herself, Dawkins had told police.
The boy was pronounced dead at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
“He systematically abused this boy,” Games-Neely told the jury in her closing arguments.
While showing the jury a photo of the child’s burned buttocks, Games-Neely said “This is most malicious thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
Games-Neely recalled the testimony of a forensic nurse who examined the child, noting Kaiwon was the most abused child she had seen.
Games-Neely acknowledged that Kaiwon’s biological mother did not deserve to be nominated for “mother of the year” for a prior incident while the child was in her care in Maryland.
But she told the jury that the evidence clearly showed that the child’s burn injuries and head trauma occurred while Kaiwon was staying with his father and her girlfriend in November and December 2011.
During that time, Games-Neely said Kaiwon’s mother was trying to get in touch her son, but was limited by her reliance on public assistance to get around and couldn’t travel to Martinsburg to pick him up.
Defense attorney Christopher Prezioso agreed in closing arguments that Kaiwon’s mother was not to blame for the child’s injuries, but insisted there was ample opportunity while Mauldin was at work for Dawkins to abuse the child and insisted Kaiwon’s father loved his son.
Both Games-Neely and Prezioso cited text messages sent by Dawkins and Mauldin, as well as statements that the couple had given to police and emergency officials.
In urging the jury of five women and seven men to hold Mauldin accountable for his son’s death, Games-Neely concluded the first part of her closing argument by showing the jury a group of images of Kaiwon’s body on a projection screen.
“This is how Kaiwon left this world,” Games-Neely said pointing to the photographs.
“And he left this world in that fashion at the hands of his father, James Mauldin.”
So who decided Daddy was the better parent, and why?
Notice that the girlfriend claims that Daddy was violent against her. Chances are that he has a history of domestic violence with the mother as well--but still got custody of vulnerable child. Typical of the fathers rights influence on the courts and social services.
Dad is identified as JAMES N. MAULDIN.
http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/tri_state/west_virginia/berkeley-county-man-charged-with-death-of--year-old/article_11aba224-b6d6-11e3-97ae-001a4bcf6878.html
Berkeley County man charged with death of 3-year-old son found guilty on all counts
Posted: Friday, March 28, 2014 8:07 pm | Updated: 10:55 pm, Fri Mar 28, 2014. Posted on Mar 28, 2014
by Matthew Umstead
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Berkeley County Circuit Court jury on Friday found a man charged with the 2012 New Year’s Day death of his 3-year-old son guilty on all counts.
James N. Mauldin, 22, who is to be sentenced May 29, was convicted of single counts of death of a child by parent, guardian and/or custodian by child abuse, child abuse causing serious bodily injury, malicious assault and presentation of false information regarding a child’s injuries in the death of Kaiwon Connelley.
Mauldin also was convicted of two counts of gross child neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury.
“We’re grateful for the jury verdict,” Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said of the jurors’ findings, which came after about two hours of deliberation.
Mauldin, who was taken into custody upon the conclusion of the trial that began this week, faces a maximum sentence of not less than 17 or more than 70 years in prison, according to sentencing statutes cited by Games-Neely.
23rd Judicial Circuit Judge Michael D. Lorensen formally scheduled the sentencing hearing for Mauldin in place of the trial’s presiding circuit judge, John C. Yoder, who had an afternoon medical appointment.
In a separate trial in November, Jasmine Dawkins, 24, who was Mauldin’s girlfriend at the time of Kaiwon’s death, was convicted on two felony counts of gross child neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury and one misdemeanor count of presentation of false information of a child’s injuries to medical personnel.
Their indictments alleged that the couple falsely stated to authorities that the child fell and struck his head, causing the injuries at their apartment at 214 Joshua Drive near Martinsburg.
Kaiwon had multiple head injuries, including a fractured skull, brain bleeds and severe burns, police have said.
“He was the most (physically) abused child we’ve ever seen in the system,” said Games-Neely, who has served as the county’s prosecuting attorney since 1993.
Dawkins had told police the injuries were the result of Malden punching Kaiwon several times a few days before the boy was hospitalized. She did not report the alleged mistreatment, because she was afraid of being abused herself, Dawkins had told police.
The boy was pronounced dead at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
“He systematically abused this boy,” Games-Neely told the jury in her closing arguments.
While showing the jury a photo of the child’s burned buttocks, Games-Neely said “This is most malicious thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
Games-Neely recalled the testimony of a forensic nurse who examined the child, noting Kaiwon was the most abused child she had seen.
Games-Neely acknowledged that Kaiwon’s biological mother did not deserve to be nominated for “mother of the year” for a prior incident while the child was in her care in Maryland.
But she told the jury that the evidence clearly showed that the child’s burn injuries and head trauma occurred while Kaiwon was staying with his father and her girlfriend in November and December 2011.
During that time, Games-Neely said Kaiwon’s mother was trying to get in touch her son, but was limited by her reliance on public assistance to get around and couldn’t travel to Martinsburg to pick him up.
Defense attorney Christopher Prezioso agreed in closing arguments that Kaiwon’s mother was not to blame for the child’s injuries, but insisted there was ample opportunity while Mauldin was at work for Dawkins to abuse the child and insisted Kaiwon’s father loved his son.
Both Games-Neely and Prezioso cited text messages sent by Dawkins and Mauldin, as well as statements that the couple had given to police and emergency officials.
In urging the jury of five women and seven men to hold Mauldin accountable for his son’s death, Games-Neely concluded the first part of her closing argument by showing the jury a group of images of Kaiwon’s body on a projection screen.
“This is how Kaiwon left this world,” Games-Neely said pointing to the photographs.
“And he left this world in that fashion at the hands of his father, James Mauldin.”
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Custodial dad on trial for death of 3-year-old son (Martinsburg, West Virginia)
Typical abuser daddy coddling, in that the father is not charged with homicide or even manslaughter.
We're reported on JAMES MAULDIN and this case several times since 2012. It's pretty clear from the sustained abuse (torture) that this boy received, that the father must have been custodial. But I have never seen it clarified what happened to the mother or how or why the father had custody. Unfortunately, this kind of basic cover-up is all too common.
http://www.your4state.com/story/d/story/trial-begins-against-father-in-martinsburg-child-a/35678/ezQCaqu1X0GMLAsf5sYnqA
Trial Begins Against Father in Martinsburg Child Abuse Case
03/25/2014 06:56 PM
03/25/2014 07:06 PM
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Opening statements were given Tuesday in the trial of James Mauldin, who’s accused of killing his 3-year-old son, Kaiwon Connelly.
Mauldin is also charged with one count of child abuse, causing serious bodily and malicious assault.
”Specifically he died from head trauma and he was severely burned, and that is the information we will give to the jury throughout this trial,” Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said.
Connelly was pronounced dead on New Year’s Day in 2012.
”We're hoping to get as many witnesses as possible,” Games-Neely added. “We're starting with emergency personnel obviously, then we'll proceed with some other witnesses we have in this regard, and then we'll continue over the next two days.”
Games-Neely stated that the child was abused under Mauldin’s supervision. Defense Attorney, Christopher Prezioso stated that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove Mauldin could have abused the child.
Mauldin’s former girlfriend, Jasmine Dawkins, who is not the biological mother of the child, was previous tried earlier this year.
She was convicted for her role in the child's death on two counts of gross child neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury and single counts of presentation of false information regarding a child's injuries in the death of Connelly.
The trial will continue through Thursday.
We're reported on JAMES MAULDIN and this case several times since 2012. It's pretty clear from the sustained abuse (torture) that this boy received, that the father must have been custodial. But I have never seen it clarified what happened to the mother or how or why the father had custody. Unfortunately, this kind of basic cover-up is all too common.
http://www.your4state.com/story/d/story/trial-begins-against-father-in-martinsburg-child-a/35678/ezQCaqu1X0GMLAsf5sYnqA
Trial Begins Against Father in Martinsburg Child Abuse Case
03/25/2014 06:56 PM
03/25/2014 07:06 PM
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Opening statements were given Tuesday in the trial of James Mauldin, who’s accused of killing his 3-year-old son, Kaiwon Connelly.
Mauldin is also charged with one count of child abuse, causing serious bodily and malicious assault.
”Specifically he died from head trauma and he was severely burned, and that is the information we will give to the jury throughout this trial,” Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said.
Connelly was pronounced dead on New Year’s Day in 2012.
”We're hoping to get as many witnesses as possible,” Games-Neely added. “We're starting with emergency personnel obviously, then we'll proceed with some other witnesses we have in this regard, and then we'll continue over the next two days.”
Games-Neely stated that the child was abused under Mauldin’s supervision. Defense Attorney, Christopher Prezioso stated that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove Mauldin could have abused the child.
Mauldin’s former girlfriend, Jasmine Dawkins, who is not the biological mother of the child, was previous tried earlier this year.
She was convicted for her role in the child's death on two counts of gross child neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury and single counts of presentation of false information regarding a child's injuries in the death of Connelly.
The trial will continue through Thursday.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Custodial dad who impregnated 11-year-old daughter now in trouble for getting her an abortion (Huntington, West Virginia)
Not till you read the update do you realize that MICHAEL ADKINS was a custodial father, and that the reason his 11-year-old daughter needed an abortion is that he raped her.
What happened to this girl's mother? And I'm not talking about the evil, suck-up step.
It is not uncommon for pedophile dads to strip the mother of custody so that he can have ready access to the child victim.
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Parents-Accused-of-Arranging-Abortions-for-11-Year-Old-Facing-New-Charges-249526281.html
UPDATE: Parents Accused of Arranging Abortions for 11-Year-Old Arraigned on New Charges
Updated: Wed 12:49 PM, Mar 12, 2014
By: WSAZ News Staff UPDATE 3/12/2014 @ 12:45 pm
HUNTINGTON, WVa. (WSAZ) -- A new seven-count indictment has been handed down against a Cabell County couple, accused of forcing their 11-year-old to have an abortion. Michael and Amanda Adkins, of Ona, are at the center of this investigation.
The grand jury has charged Michael Adkins with sexual assault, incest, and sexual abuse.
The victim's step-mother, Amanda, is facing obstruction charges and the intimidation of a witness.
"This has been an injustice," says Corporal Marleen Moore with the WV State Police Crimes Against Children's Unit. "Now it's time for her dad and step mom to pay for the injustices and indignities and the crimes they committed against this child."
The Adkins were first arrested, in March of 2013. The alleged sexual assault occurred sometime between October of 2010 and February of 2011.
The case stems around the 11 year old's abortion. Investigators say it was result of the sexual assault and incest committed by the victim's father.
"Her step mom snuck her off and got an abortion and neglected to tell anybody." says Corporal Moore. "She made statements telling everyone it was a miscarriage. The Adkins' made threats against their daughter, telling her not to tell."
The Adkins had no comment, in front of WSAZ's cameras as they left the courtroom, late Thursday morning.
They remain free, on the original $20,000 bond, posted.
They're scheduled to appear back in court, on April 21st.
ORIGINAL STORY 3/11/14 @ 1:48 p.m.
CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Parents, who were originally charged last year in connection with a child abuse case in Cabell County, are expected to be in court Wednesday to answer to new charges.
West Virginia State Police say Michael and Amanda Adkins will answer an indictment related to incest and child abuse charges.
These are additional charges, following a year-long investigation from when the couple was first arrested.
They were arrested in March 2013 after State Police say they consented to two abortion-like procedures within 15 days for their 11-year-old daughter.
They were originally charged with child neglect causing the risk of injury.
At this time, the indictment remains sealed. More details surrounding the new charges are expected to be released Wednesday.
What happened to this girl's mother? And I'm not talking about the evil, suck-up step.
It is not uncommon for pedophile dads to strip the mother of custody so that he can have ready access to the child victim.
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Parents-Accused-of-Arranging-Abortions-for-11-Year-Old-Facing-New-Charges-249526281.html
UPDATE: Parents Accused of Arranging Abortions for 11-Year-Old Arraigned on New Charges
Updated: Wed 12:49 PM, Mar 12, 2014
By: WSAZ News Staff UPDATE 3/12/2014 @ 12:45 pm
HUNTINGTON, WVa. (WSAZ) -- A new seven-count indictment has been handed down against a Cabell County couple, accused of forcing their 11-year-old to have an abortion. Michael and Amanda Adkins, of Ona, are at the center of this investigation.
The grand jury has charged Michael Adkins with sexual assault, incest, and sexual abuse.
The victim's step-mother, Amanda, is facing obstruction charges and the intimidation of a witness.
"This has been an injustice," says Corporal Marleen Moore with the WV State Police Crimes Against Children's Unit. "Now it's time for her dad and step mom to pay for the injustices and indignities and the crimes they committed against this child."
The Adkins were first arrested, in March of 2013. The alleged sexual assault occurred sometime between October of 2010 and February of 2011.
The case stems around the 11 year old's abortion. Investigators say it was result of the sexual assault and incest committed by the victim's father.
"Her step mom snuck her off and got an abortion and neglected to tell anybody." says Corporal Moore. "She made statements telling everyone it was a miscarriage. The Adkins' made threats against their daughter, telling her not to tell."
The Adkins had no comment, in front of WSAZ's cameras as they left the courtroom, late Thursday morning.
They remain free, on the original $20,000 bond, posted.
They're scheduled to appear back in court, on April 21st.
ORIGINAL STORY 3/11/14 @ 1:48 p.m.
CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Parents, who were originally charged last year in connection with a child abuse case in Cabell County, are expected to be in court Wednesday to answer to new charges.
West Virginia State Police say Michael and Amanda Adkins will answer an indictment related to incest and child abuse charges.
These are additional charges, following a year-long investigation from when the couple was first arrested.
They were arrested in March 2013 after State Police say they consented to two abortion-like procedures within 15 days for their 11-year-old daughter.
They were originally charged with child neglect causing the risk of injury.
At this time, the indictment remains sealed. More details surrounding the new charges are expected to be released Wednesday.
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