According to this somewhat sketchy coverage, the mother retained custody and has moved out of state. It is not clear whether the parents were together when the assault happened or whether they were separated and the assault took place during the father's access time.
Dad is identified as ERICO SAWYER.
http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/2014/07/07/update-virginia-beach-father-indicted-for-child-abuse-/14829726/
UPDATE: Virginia Beach father guilty of child abuse
Staff, 13News Now 3:46 p.m. EST January 22, 2015
UPDATE 1/22/14: Erico Sawyer was found guilty of aggravated malicious wounding and child neglect. He could receive up to life in prison plus 10 years. Sawyer will be formally sentenced on April 20th.
UPDATE 7/7/13: Erico Sawyer was indicted for aggravated malicious wounding Monday.
Sawyer was originally charged with malicious wounding, which carries a maximum of 20 years. He had a court date of June 17 where he was expected to plead guilty, but Erico changed his mind. He has now been indicted for aggravated malicious wounding, which carries a penalty of 20 years to life in prison.
According to the Commonwealth's Attorney Office, the baby and her mother have moved to Colorado, and the only detail the spokewoman could offer is that the baby was hospitalized for about a month and is expected to live.
Sawyer remains in custody on no bond.
UPDATE 9/20/12.: Erico Sawyer appeared in court today and was not granted bond; the little girl is on life support. The child's grandmother says the girl had strokes on both sides of her brain and they may have to remove part of her skull to reduce the swelling in her brain.
He is due in court for a preliminary hearing on September 30.
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VIRGINIA BEACH -- A 3-year-old child is in a Norfolk hospital in critical condition and her father is facing charges.
Police say the girl was taken to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters Monday around 3:30 p.m., but they did not reveal the nature of her injuries.
Following an investigation at the hospital, detectives arrested 28-year-old Erico Gerard Sawyer of the 2200 block of Acorn Cove in Virginia Beach.
He's in jail charged with felony child neglect.
This case remains under investigation.