Dad convicted of reckless homicide in beating death of infant son (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

Dad MICHAEL L. CRAMER has been convicted of 1st-degree reckless homicide in the beating death of his infant son. At the time of the murder, Dad was acting as baby sitter while Mom went to a doctor's appointment. This "brave" little daddy, who managed to beat up a baby during this short time, jumped bail and disappeared out of state. Mom had to work at getting his parental rights severed so that she could make medical decisions for the baby, who lingered in a coma for months. We originally posted on this case back in September:

http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2009/09/dad-charged-with-homicide-after-7-month.html

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/92549184.html

Father convicted in death of infant son
By Bruce Vielmetti of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: April 30, 2010

A 24-year-old Milwaukee man was found guilty Friday of first-degree reckless homicide in the February 2009 beating death of his infant son.

The same jury also found Michael L. Cramer guilty of bail jumping for contact he made with his wife, the child's mother. He faces up to 60 years in prison at his sentencing June 15.

Cramer injured the child, Matthew Cramer, on Feb. 17, 2009, while his wife was at a doctor's appointment. Cramer was initially charged with child abuse, and he fled to Illinois after posting bail. Candace Cramer fought to have Michael Cramer's parental rights severed so she could make end-of-life decisions for Matthew, who was comatose for months and died in September.

Though she testified against Michael Cramer during his trial this week, she became extremely upset when the jury returned its guilty verdicts Friday, said Assistant District Attorney Kevin Shomin, who prosecuted the case.

Candace Cramer was arrested by sheriff's deputies outside the courtroom of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Kevin Martens, who presided at the trial. She was being held late Friday at the Milwaukee County Jail, but details of her arrest were not available.

She and Michael Cramer have two other children.