Dad DAVID LEE SIMPSON pleaded guilty to 4 counts of felony child abuse for assaulting his 4-month-old twin sons. Both babies suffered from broken legs, fractured toes, and severe bruising. One had a fractured skull, and the other had a concussion. One baby's rib was pulled away from his rib cage.
So why did Dad do such horrible things? He said he was mad because he had to "babysit for them on weekends" and they would "cry and get on his nerves." Was Mom working or was this a visitation arrangement? The article doesn't say. Just another example of why some dads should not be caretakers of infants. But I guess we won't have to worry about these kids for another 3 years, since Dad will be in prison.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090820/NEWS01/908200313/1254
Swain man gets prison for breaking infants' legs
By Clarke Morrison • August 20, 2009 12:29 PM
BRYSON CITY — A Bryson City man will spend more than three years in prison for breaking the legs of his 4-month-old twin sons.
David Lee Simpson pleaded guilty to four counts of felony child abuse, said District Attorney Mike Bonfoey.
An investigator said following the assaults in November that the infants also suffered fractured toes and severe bruising under their arms. One had a fractured skull, and the other a concussion. One child's rib was pulled away from his rib cage.
Simpson, 28, was sentenced this week in Swain County Superior Court to 44-72 months in state prison.
He was arrested after a doctor at Mission Hospital in Asheville alerted social workers to severe injuries to the children. Lt. Jenny Hyatt of the Swain County Sheriff's Office said it was the worst case of child abuse she had seen in 16 years in law enforcement.
Hyatt said Simpson told her he assaulted the children because he had to baby-sit for them on weekends and they would cry and “get on his nerves.” The abuse appeared to have occurred over several weeks, she said.
The Department of Social Services contacted the Sheriff's Office on Nov. 13 after the children were seen by a doctor in Asheville.