Another case where the healing injuries suggest that Daddy had been abusing this baby virtually from birth.
Dad is identified as ALVIN RAT BASKINS JR.
http://www.thesnaponline.com/x1396854205/Father-faces-charges-of-abuse-on-son
May 19, 2014
Father faces charges of abuse on son
Police say arms, ribs fractured, 6 week old bitten
By Ritchie Starnes, News Editor CNHI
The Stanly News & Press
Mon May 19, 2014, 10:44 AM EDT Sunday, May 19, 2014 — A Badin man is in jail accused of fracturing his infant son’s arms, ribs and biting him on the legs.
Alvin Ray Baskins Jr. remains jailed on felonious charges of child abuse inflicting serious personal injury and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, according to Badin police Sgt. Scott Williams.
The alleged incidents occurred between Dec. 31 and March 14, with the more serious injuries occurring when the infant was 6 weeks old, Williams said. The boy was born Nov. 5.
In addition to fractured bones in each arm, the infant suffered four fractured ribs, Williams said. There were multiple bite marks on the boy’s legs, including some that appeared to have been older. The Department of Social Services was first to intervene and contact police. DSS removed the child from the home of his father. The boy and his mother have been residing with the maternal grandmother in Norwood while Baskins, 27, remained at his Badin residence.
Since Baskins’ May 5 arrest, the child and his mother have returned to the Badin residence they shared with Baskins.
Baskins was jailed under a $10,000 bail. He has yet to post bail as of Friday.
If Baskins makes bail and returns home, DSS requires the boy to be separated from the same residence of his father. Any visits between Baskins and his son must be supervised, Williams said.
Police are investigating whether Baskins has other children in Indiana that may have also suffered abuse.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Dad faces battery, child abuse charges after assaulting teen daughter and her mother (Las Cruces, New Mexico)
Dad is identified as MICHAEL A. SUAZO, JR.
http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/las-cruces-father-faces-battery-child-abuse-charges-after-drunken-incident-4894.shtml#.U3fRI9fD9Yc
Las Cruces father faces battery, child abuse charges after drunken incident
Updated: Friday, May 16 2014, 04:27 PM MDT
By: Jesse Martinez
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – A Las Cruces man accused of shoving his wife and daughter to the floor while he was drunk was arrested Wednesday night.
Police said Michael A. Suazo Jr. spent much of Wednesday drinking alcohol and got into an argument with his wife that afternoon.
The argument escalated to the point where Suazo, 41, allegedly grabbed his wife and threw her down on a couch, police said.
Detectives learned the couple’s teenage daughter tired to intervene, but was shoved to the ground by Suazo and she hit her back on a wooden staircase, police said.
Afterward the teen drove her father to the store and Suazo drove them back to their home to find officers at the scene, police said.
The teen got out of the vehicle; Suazo drove away and was eventually stopped by police.
Officers said they detected a strong alcohol odor in Suazo’s breath when he was pulled over. Suazo was charged with battery against a household member and intentional child abuse. He also faces charges of driving with a suspended or revoked license, aggravated driving under the influence and resisting or evading arrest.
He was booked into the county jail with bail set at $7,500.
http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/las-cruces-father-faces-battery-child-abuse-charges-after-drunken-incident-4894.shtml#.U3fRI9fD9Yc
Las Cruces father faces battery, child abuse charges after drunken incident
Updated: Friday, May 16 2014, 04:27 PM MDT
By: Jesse Martinez
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – A Las Cruces man accused of shoving his wife and daughter to the floor while he was drunk was arrested Wednesday night.
Police said Michael A. Suazo Jr. spent much of Wednesday drinking alcohol and got into an argument with his wife that afternoon.
The argument escalated to the point where Suazo, 41, allegedly grabbed his wife and threw her down on a couch, police said.
Detectives learned the couple’s teenage daughter tired to intervene, but was shoved to the ground by Suazo and she hit her back on a wooden staircase, police said.
Afterward the teen drove her father to the store and Suazo drove them back to their home to find officers at the scene, police said.
The teen got out of the vehicle; Suazo drove away and was eventually stopped by police.
Officers said they detected a strong alcohol odor in Suazo’s breath when he was pulled over. Suazo was charged with battery against a household member and intentional child abuse. He also faces charges of driving with a suspended or revoked license, aggravated driving under the influence and resisting or evading arrest.
He was booked into the county jail with bail set at $7,500.
Dad with court-ordered visitation charged with manslaughter in death of 3-uear-old son (Prince George County, Virginia)
Another case where you have to wonder about the back story. What court, what judge granted this father visitation? Was there a past history of abuse/neglect that was ignored or minimized? Was there a protective mother who objected, but was overruled?
Dad is identified THOMAS E. HOLLAND.
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Father-Charged-With-Manslaughter-in-3-Year-Old-Sons-Death-259544111.html
Father Charged With Manslaughter in 3-Year-Old Son's Death From Drugs, Police Say
Saturday, May 17, 2014 | Updated 6:56 AM EDT
Pat Collins
A Maryland dad is facing manslaughter charges after police say he gave his 3-year-old son a fatal cocktail of drugs, including cocaine.
Thomas E. Holland, 38, drove his unresponsive son to the United Medical Center in southeast Washington in January, police said. Officers were called to the hospital when the boy passed away, and a death investigation was launched.
A toxicology report revealed a number of drugs in the child's system, including toxic levels of of cocaine, acetaminophen and codeine.
The amount of drugs in the boy's system would have killed him within four hours, according to court documents. Police say he could not have accidentally swallowed them.
"The investigators and the medical examiner feel very strongly there's no way this child accidentally ingested this collection of drugs all together," said Bill Alexander of Prince George's County Police.
Holland had a court-ordered visit with his 3-year-old just before the boy's hospital visit. News4's Pat Collins spoke to the boy's great-grandparent Maurice Gaither.
"It's the most horrific and the most terrible thing I've ever experienced," Gaither said.
Holland was taken into custody May 15 and remains behind bars, facing manslaughter and child abuse charges.
A lawyer for Holland was not available for comment.
Dad is identified THOMAS E. HOLLAND.
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Father-Charged-With-Manslaughter-in-3-Year-Old-Sons-Death-259544111.html
Father Charged With Manslaughter in 3-Year-Old Son's Death From Drugs, Police Say
Saturday, May 17, 2014 | Updated 6:56 AM EDT
Pat Collins
A Maryland dad is facing manslaughter charges after police say he gave his 3-year-old son a fatal cocktail of drugs, including cocaine.
Thomas E. Holland, 38, drove his unresponsive son to the United Medical Center in southeast Washington in January, police said. Officers were called to the hospital when the boy passed away, and a death investigation was launched.
A toxicology report revealed a number of drugs in the child's system, including toxic levels of of cocaine, acetaminophen and codeine.
The amount of drugs in the boy's system would have killed him within four hours, according to court documents. Police say he could not have accidentally swallowed them.
"The investigators and the medical examiner feel very strongly there's no way this child accidentally ingested this collection of drugs all together," said Bill Alexander of Prince George's County Police.
Holland had a court-ordered visit with his 3-year-old just before the boy's hospital visit. News4's Pat Collins spoke to the boy's great-grandparent Maurice Gaither.
"It's the most horrific and the most terrible thing I've ever experienced," Gaither said.
Holland was taken into custody May 15 and remains behind bars, facing manslaughter and child abuse charges.
A lawyer for Holland was not available for comment.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Dad convicted of battering 2-year-old son during visitation; boy suffered perforated intestine (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
Even though this little boy was battered during visitation with Dad and the step, Mom has still lost the boy to foster care.
Dad is identified as BOBBY LEE PITCHFORD. Note his previous criminal record. Impressive. Wonder what custody/visitation orders were in place before this incident, and whether Mom was required to facilitate contact regardless of Daddy's less than illustrious history. It's very likely, but ignored here....
http://swtimes.com/news/fort-smith-father-sentenced-battery-against-2-year-old
Fort Smith Father Sentenced For Battery Against 2-Year-Old
By Jeff Arnold Times Record
Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Michael Fitzhugh told Bobby Lee Pitchford he would sentence him to “significantly more” time in prison Friday, if law didn’t require a sentence of no more than five years in prison plus 15 years suspended.
Pitchford, 26, of Fort Smith was convicted of first-degree battery Wednesday against his son Tristan Stepanian, 2, who was life-flighted Sept. 25 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock for an emergency surgery on a perforated small intestine.
The jury deliberated for about 3 1/2 hours Wednesday before convicting Pitchford, then deliberated 90 minutes before recommending a sentence of four years in prison plus 16 years suspended. The trial began Monday.
First-degree battery is a Class B felony normally punishable by five to 20 years in prison, but Pitchford faced a sentencing range of five to 40 years in prison because he is a habitual offender. He previously was convicted of four felonies: theft of property and being a felon in possession of a firearm in state court, and desertion and being absent without leave in a military court in 2008 when he was in the U.S. Army.
But Fitzhugh determined he couldn’t sentence Pitchford to less than the five-year minimum, based on a 2013 Arkansas Supreme Court decision.
“This court has consistently held that minimum sentences for habitual offenders are mandatory,” according to the 4-3 decision issued May 23, 2013.
The judge delayed sentencing until Friday to give both the prosecution and defense time to submit briefs on sentencing.
On Friday, Fitzhugh announced that he also found he was prohibited from sentencing Pitchford to more than five years, based on the jury’s recommendation.
“If the jury in any case assesses a punishment, whether of fine or imprisonment, below the limit prescribed by law for offenses of which the defendant is convicted, the court shall render judgment and pronounce sentence according to the lowest limit prescribed by law in such cases,” according to Arkansas law.
The defense insisted Tristan’s injuries were caused either when another 2-year-old struck him in the stomach with a toy guitar or when Tristan jumped off a children’s picnic table and landed on a toy truck.
Fitzhugh told Pitchford “your story is just not believable in the eyes of the court” based on the testimony of three physicians, who told jurors the force needed to cause a perforated bowel is equal to a car wreck at 50 or 60 mph or a fall from a two-story window.
Pitchford and his wife Rachael cared for Tristan for about six weeks, until Sept. 24, while Tristan’s mother and Pitchford’s ex-wife, Robin Stepanian, was in Tulsa, where she was planning to move. The surgeon who operated on Tristan testified the injury that cause the child’s perforated bowel occurred no later than Sept. 23.
Fitzhugh also pointed out that the child was “bruised or cut from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet” by the time he was hospitalized, after coming to him without any injuries.
Dr. Rachel Clingenpeel told jurors Tuesday that a child who falls out a two-story window doesn’t have as many bruises as Tristan had Sept. 25 following his emergency surgery. Clingenpeel also said multiple bruises on the neck, back, stomach and hip aren’t typical of accidental injuries children regularly experience.
Clingenpeel is a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital specializing in child abuse cases.
Although Fitzhugh was prohibited from sentencing Pitchford to more than five years, he ordered the sentence be consecutive to a six-year prison term Pitchford received in February when the court revoked his suspended sentence on a 2009 felon in possession of a firearm charge.
Fitzhugh also issued a no-contact order prohibiting Pitchford from any communication with Tristan and forbidding him from having any unsupervised contact with any minor.
Deputy public defender Rita Watkins objected to the judge forbidding Pitchford from having unsupervised contact with minors. Fitzhugh told Watkins she could object but that was his ruling.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Robert McClure said Tristan has recovered from his injuries and is now in foster care.
Dad is identified as BOBBY LEE PITCHFORD. Note his previous criminal record. Impressive. Wonder what custody/visitation orders were in place before this incident, and whether Mom was required to facilitate contact regardless of Daddy's less than illustrious history. It's very likely, but ignored here....
http://swtimes.com/news/fort-smith-father-sentenced-battery-against-2-year-old
Fort Smith Father Sentenced For Battery Against 2-Year-Old
By Jeff Arnold Times Record
Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Michael Fitzhugh told Bobby Lee Pitchford he would sentence him to “significantly more” time in prison Friday, if law didn’t require a sentence of no more than five years in prison plus 15 years suspended.
Pitchford, 26, of Fort Smith was convicted of first-degree battery Wednesday against his son Tristan Stepanian, 2, who was life-flighted Sept. 25 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock for an emergency surgery on a perforated small intestine.
The jury deliberated for about 3 1/2 hours Wednesday before convicting Pitchford, then deliberated 90 minutes before recommending a sentence of four years in prison plus 16 years suspended. The trial began Monday.
First-degree battery is a Class B felony normally punishable by five to 20 years in prison, but Pitchford faced a sentencing range of five to 40 years in prison because he is a habitual offender. He previously was convicted of four felonies: theft of property and being a felon in possession of a firearm in state court, and desertion and being absent without leave in a military court in 2008 when he was in the U.S. Army.
But Fitzhugh determined he couldn’t sentence Pitchford to less than the five-year minimum, based on a 2013 Arkansas Supreme Court decision.
“This court has consistently held that minimum sentences for habitual offenders are mandatory,” according to the 4-3 decision issued May 23, 2013.
The judge delayed sentencing until Friday to give both the prosecution and defense time to submit briefs on sentencing.
On Friday, Fitzhugh announced that he also found he was prohibited from sentencing Pitchford to more than five years, based on the jury’s recommendation.
“If the jury in any case assesses a punishment, whether of fine or imprisonment, below the limit prescribed by law for offenses of which the defendant is convicted, the court shall render judgment and pronounce sentence according to the lowest limit prescribed by law in such cases,” according to Arkansas law.
The defense insisted Tristan’s injuries were caused either when another 2-year-old struck him in the stomach with a toy guitar or when Tristan jumped off a children’s picnic table and landed on a toy truck.
Fitzhugh told Pitchford “your story is just not believable in the eyes of the court” based on the testimony of three physicians, who told jurors the force needed to cause a perforated bowel is equal to a car wreck at 50 or 60 mph or a fall from a two-story window.
Pitchford and his wife Rachael cared for Tristan for about six weeks, until Sept. 24, while Tristan’s mother and Pitchford’s ex-wife, Robin Stepanian, was in Tulsa, where she was planning to move. The surgeon who operated on Tristan testified the injury that cause the child’s perforated bowel occurred no later than Sept. 23.
Fitzhugh also pointed out that the child was “bruised or cut from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet” by the time he was hospitalized, after coming to him without any injuries.
Dr. Rachel Clingenpeel told jurors Tuesday that a child who falls out a two-story window doesn’t have as many bruises as Tristan had Sept. 25 following his emergency surgery. Clingenpeel also said multiple bruises on the neck, back, stomach and hip aren’t typical of accidental injuries children regularly experience.
Clingenpeel is a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital specializing in child abuse cases.
Although Fitzhugh was prohibited from sentencing Pitchford to more than five years, he ordered the sentence be consecutive to a six-year prison term Pitchford received in February when the court revoked his suspended sentence on a 2009 felon in possession of a firearm charge.
Fitzhugh also issued a no-contact order prohibiting Pitchford from any communication with Tristan and forbidding him from having any unsupervised contact with any minor.
Deputy public defender Rita Watkins objected to the judge forbidding Pitchford from having unsupervised contact with minors. Fitzhugh told Watkins she could object but that was his ruling.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Robert McClure said Tristan has recovered from his injuries and is now in foster care.
Dad arrested ffor abuisng 3-month-old baby (Shirley, Indiana)
Dad is identified as WILLIAM MCDONALD.
http://www.wibc.com/news/story.aspx?ID=2171882
Man Arrested After Shaking Three-Month-Old Baby
By Alex Brown @WIBC_AlexBrown
5/16/2014
A 20-year-old Shirley, Indiana man is behind bars on child abuse charges.
The Hancock County Sheriff's Department says a three-month-old child was admitted to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health on Wednesday with serious injuries. The child's injuries were not the result of routine care or handling and were "consistent with a deliberate act with no previous trauma."
The child's father, William McDonald, was arrested for Neglect of a Dependant and Battery after he confessed to shaking the child. McDonald told investigators he lost control of his emotions after he could not get the child to stop crying.
McDonald is being held in the Hancock County Jail.
http://www.wibc.com/news/story.aspx?ID=2171882
Man Arrested After Shaking Three-Month-Old Baby
By Alex Brown @WIBC_AlexBrown
5/16/2014
A 20-year-old Shirley, Indiana man is behind bars on child abuse charges.
The Hancock County Sheriff's Department says a three-month-old child was admitted to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health on Wednesday with serious injuries. The child's injuries were not the result of routine care or handling and were "consistent with a deliberate act with no previous trauma."
The child's father, William McDonald, was arrested for Neglect of a Dependant and Battery after he confessed to shaking the child. McDonald told investigators he lost control of his emotions after he could not get the child to stop crying.
McDonald is being held in the Hancock County Jail.
9-year-old girl taken from adoptive parents and returned to ex-con biological dad she didn't know (Omaha, Nebreaka)
Horrible story illustrating how far fathers "rights" have come at the expense of everyone else.
But notice a little detail almost buried here. In 2004, the biological mother (or so we are told) "gave up her rights" to the biological father--a man who is, AT MINIMUM, a convicted felon for transporting firearms. Are we really sure this decision wasn't free from coercion?
Dad is identified as JOSH MCCAUL.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2630258/I-want-come-Heartbreaking-final-calls-girl-adoptive-parents-returned-ex-biological-father.html
'I want you to come and get me': Heartbreaking final calls of girl, 9, to her adoptive parents before she was returned to ex-con biological father
Sonya McCaul has been 'returned' to a ex-con father she did not know
Nine-year-old had been living with Kim and David Hodgin since 2006
They were given two hours notice before she was removed from their care
She now lives with her father, jailed for transporting arms, in Nebraska Sonya has been calling her adoptive parents, pleading to return home
By Sara Malm
Published: 03:51 EST, 16 May 2014 | Updated: 13:00 EST, 16 May 2014
A Tennessee couple has revealed the heartbreaking pleas of their adoptive daughter begging to be returned to their care after she was forcibly removed to live with her ex-con father in Nebraska.
Sonya, aged nine, had been in the care of Kim and David Hodgin, from Dickson, Tennessee since before she was two years old, but has recently been ‘returned’ to her biological father in Omaha, Nebraska.
In the last phone call to her adoptive parents, Sonya can be heard pleading with them to come and take her from her biological father more than 700 miles away.
Despite having adopted Sonya in 2008, the Hodgins were forced to watch their daughter be taken to her father, a convicted felon who served time for transporting firearms.
A Tennessee appeals court overturned the adoption of Sonya, who had lived with Mr and Mrs Hodgin since before she was two years old, after her father Josh McCaul was released from prison.
In a recording of a phone call made on January 30 this year, a day after Sonya was moved from Dickson County to Omaha, she can be heard asking for her adoptive parents to take her back.
'What did you say, baby doll?' Mrs Hodgin can be heard asking in a recording of the phone call obtained by CNN.
'I want to you to come and get me', the young girl responds.
During the phone call, the last time the Hodgins spoke to her, Sonya also describes her biological father's home as 'dirty, with mold and cigarettes everywhere,' and although the man is 'nice' to her, the home lacks clean water.
The Hodgins say they were given just three hours' notice before the young girl was taken from them.
'Sonya's crying her eyes out. Screaming bloody murder, "Please don't let them do this, Daddy, please, Mama, don't let 'em take me,",' Mr Hodgin told CNN.
'They took her bags, and that's the last that I've seen her,' Mrs Hodgin adds.
McCaul had been awarded custody of his infant daughter in 2004 after Sonya's mother gave up her rights.
However, she has been living with the Hodgins since 2006 and they were able to adopt Sonya after McCaul pleaded guilty to transporting firearms and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.
This automatically terminated his parental rights as Tennessee state law does not allow anyone incarcerated for more than ten years to have rights to a child under the age of eight.
However, his sentence was shortened to just eight years and he was able to retain it upon his release from prison after claiming his parental rights were illegally terminated.
In 2009, McCaul won an appeal claiming he did not voluntarily give up his rights and the court did not follow due process in the adoption proceedings.
For the next five years, Sonya continued to live with the Hodgins on their Tennessee farm as the two sides fought for custody.
In January this year, a judge ruled that the nine-year-old should return to her biological father, and a few hours later, she had been taken from the Hodgins.
The couple are now petitioning to have her returned based on Sonya's best interest and a hearing is scheduled for Friday.
DCS spokesman Rob Johnson said earlier this year that while foster parents often come to love the children in their care, the law is clear, 'Birth parents have the right to raise their children.'
But notice a little detail almost buried here. In 2004, the biological mother (or so we are told) "gave up her rights" to the biological father--a man who is, AT MINIMUM, a convicted felon for transporting firearms. Are we really sure this decision wasn't free from coercion?
Dad is identified as JOSH MCCAUL.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2630258/I-want-come-Heartbreaking-final-calls-girl-adoptive-parents-returned-ex-biological-father.html
'I want you to come and get me': Heartbreaking final calls of girl, 9, to her adoptive parents before she was returned to ex-con biological father
Sonya McCaul has been 'returned' to a ex-con father she did not know
Nine-year-old had been living with Kim and David Hodgin since 2006
They were given two hours notice before she was removed from their care
She now lives with her father, jailed for transporting arms, in Nebraska Sonya has been calling her adoptive parents, pleading to return home
By Sara Malm
Published: 03:51 EST, 16 May 2014 | Updated: 13:00 EST, 16 May 2014
A Tennessee couple has revealed the heartbreaking pleas of their adoptive daughter begging to be returned to their care after she was forcibly removed to live with her ex-con father in Nebraska.
Sonya, aged nine, had been in the care of Kim and David Hodgin, from Dickson, Tennessee since before she was two years old, but has recently been ‘returned’ to her biological father in Omaha, Nebraska.
In the last phone call to her adoptive parents, Sonya can be heard pleading with them to come and take her from her biological father more than 700 miles away.
Despite having adopted Sonya in 2008, the Hodgins were forced to watch their daughter be taken to her father, a convicted felon who served time for transporting firearms.
A Tennessee appeals court overturned the adoption of Sonya, who had lived with Mr and Mrs Hodgin since before she was two years old, after her father Josh McCaul was released from prison.
In a recording of a phone call made on January 30 this year, a day after Sonya was moved from Dickson County to Omaha, she can be heard asking for her adoptive parents to take her back.
'What did you say, baby doll?' Mrs Hodgin can be heard asking in a recording of the phone call obtained by CNN.
'I want to you to come and get me', the young girl responds.
During the phone call, the last time the Hodgins spoke to her, Sonya also describes her biological father's home as 'dirty, with mold and cigarettes everywhere,' and although the man is 'nice' to her, the home lacks clean water.
The Hodgins say they were given just three hours' notice before the young girl was taken from them.
'Sonya's crying her eyes out. Screaming bloody murder, "Please don't let them do this, Daddy, please, Mama, don't let 'em take me,",' Mr Hodgin told CNN.
'They took her bags, and that's the last that I've seen her,' Mrs Hodgin adds.
McCaul had been awarded custody of his infant daughter in 2004 after Sonya's mother gave up her rights.
However, she has been living with the Hodgins since 2006 and they were able to adopt Sonya after McCaul pleaded guilty to transporting firearms and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.
This automatically terminated his parental rights as Tennessee state law does not allow anyone incarcerated for more than ten years to have rights to a child under the age of eight.
However, his sentence was shortened to just eight years and he was able to retain it upon his release from prison after claiming his parental rights were illegally terminated.
In 2009, McCaul won an appeal claiming he did not voluntarily give up his rights and the court did not follow due process in the adoption proceedings.
For the next five years, Sonya continued to live with the Hodgins on their Tennessee farm as the two sides fought for custody.
In January this year, a judge ruled that the nine-year-old should return to her biological father, and a few hours later, she had been taken from the Hodgins.
The couple are now petitioning to have her returned based on Sonya's best interest and a hearing is scheduled for Friday.
DCS spokesman Rob Johnson said earlier this year that while foster parents often come to love the children in their care, the law is clear, 'Birth parents have the right to raise their children.'
Abused 1-month-old infant son clings to life as dad faces assault charges (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
The baby's brain is so damaged he can't even cry.
Dad is identified as JAY MINOR.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20140515/NEWS/140519827/1291/news?p=1&tc=pg
Abused 1-month-old clings to life as father faces charges
Mother 'can't believe this would happen'
One-month-old Jerry Wade Lee Minor has been hospitalized with multiple skull fractures, broken bones and bruises. Jay Minor, the baby's father, was jailed May 14, 2014, on charges of assault and aggravated child abuse.
By Stephanie Taylor Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 6:07 p.m.
Tina Minor may never hear her son cry again.
The 1-month-old infant has been hospitalized with multiple skull fractures, broken bones and bruises to his tiny body for just more than a week. But he hasn't cried once.
"We asked why, and the doctors said that he can't," said Princess Hall, Tina's mother and the grandmother of little Jerry. "They said that his brain is so damaged that he won't be able to."
The baby's cries after waking from a nap on May 6 are what family members believe prompted a violent reaction from his father. Jay Minor initially told family members that he caused the injuries when he fell on the baby. He does have a bad knee, his mother-in-law said. Investigators and family members no longer believe him.
X-rays and interrogations convinced them to believe that the injuries were intentional. Minor, 37, was jailed Wednesday on charges of assault and aggravated child abuse.
"I feel like a tornado went through my family," Tina Minor said. "I'm so hurt."
Minor, 30, sobbed as she talked about her son. She wasn't able to visit him Wednesday. She doesn't have a reliable car and has had to ask friends and family members for rides to the hospital in Birmingham.
"I just can't believe that this would happen. I never would have thought anyone would do something like this," she said.
Hall said that the infant seems to be improving, and that he could be moved out of intensive care. His injuries are still life-threatening, though, and he remained in intensive care at Children's of Alabama on Thursday.
He's breathing on his own, except for a little tube they've got in his nose," she said. 'They've still got a feeding tube, he won't be able to take a bottle. They told us today after looking at some X-rays that he may have tried to break his leg before."
Dad is identified as JAY MINOR.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20140515/NEWS/140519827/1291/news?p=1&tc=pg
Abused 1-month-old clings to life as father faces charges
Mother 'can't believe this would happen'
One-month-old Jerry Wade Lee Minor has been hospitalized with multiple skull fractures, broken bones and bruises. Jay Minor, the baby's father, was jailed May 14, 2014, on charges of assault and aggravated child abuse.
By Stephanie Taylor Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 6:07 p.m.
Tina Minor may never hear her son cry again.
The 1-month-old infant has been hospitalized with multiple skull fractures, broken bones and bruises to his tiny body for just more than a week. But he hasn't cried once.
"We asked why, and the doctors said that he can't," said Princess Hall, Tina's mother and the grandmother of little Jerry. "They said that his brain is so damaged that he won't be able to."
The baby's cries after waking from a nap on May 6 are what family members believe prompted a violent reaction from his father. Jay Minor initially told family members that he caused the injuries when he fell on the baby. He does have a bad knee, his mother-in-law said. Investigators and family members no longer believe him.
X-rays and interrogations convinced them to believe that the injuries were intentional. Minor, 37, was jailed Wednesday on charges of assault and aggravated child abuse.
"I feel like a tornado went through my family," Tina Minor said. "I'm so hurt."
Minor, 30, sobbed as she talked about her son. She wasn't able to visit him Wednesday. She doesn't have a reliable car and has had to ask friends and family members for rides to the hospital in Birmingham.
"I just can't believe that this would happen. I never would have thought anyone would do something like this," she said.
Hall said that the infant seems to be improving, and that he could be moved out of intensive care. His injuries are still life-threatening, though, and he remained in intensive care at Children's of Alabama on Thursday.
He's breathing on his own, except for a little tube they've got in his nose," she said. 'They've still got a feeding tube, he won't be able to take a bottle. They told us today after looking at some X-rays that he may have tried to break his leg before."
"He's got a long road to travel, but he's holding on," Hall said. "If he makes it through this, his brain function will never be what it would have been."
Jerry Wade Lee Minor was born on April 6, weighing around 7 pounds and with a full head of dark hair. He has an older half-brother, Mason, a 17-month old from Tina's previous relationship. Mason will remain in his grandmother's custody for the foreseeable future, Hall said.
Tina Minor, Jay Minor and the children lived with her mother at a mobile home on Hagler-Coaling Road. The Minors married on Valentine's Day after dating for about a year. Minor said that their relationship is over.
"He will never be welcome here again," Hall said. "I would have never thought he would do something like this. I'd like to take him out and beat him the same way he beat that baby."
Hall and Tina Minor were outside with Mason the day they believe the abuse occurred. Jay Minor and Jerry were napping in a bedroom at the other end of the mobile home while they sat on a swing and played with the toddler.
"The baby must have woken up crying and he started to beat him," Tina Minor said. She called Northport Medical Center when the baby wouldn't focus or eat.
"We noticed that his eyes were rolling back in his head. I sat in the back seat with him on the way to the hospital and he had three seizing spells. I put my hand on his chest and could feel his heart beating so fast."
Hall said that a friend made a prayer blanket that they placed next to Jerry Wednesday while several people gathered around and prayed for his recovery.
"There have been a lot of prayers going out," she said. "I just hope the good Lord will heal him."
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