Dad threw 4-month-old boy and caused skull fractures while mom was at work, PA cops say
A dad called his girlfriend at work, saying 4-year-old twins knocked over a 4-month-old baby’s bassinet, Pennsylvania police told news outlets.
When the mother returned home, she found a bruise on the baby’s head and the apartment in disarray, Pittsburgh police said, according to WTAE. She monitored her child throughout the night, WTAE reported, but eventually took him to the hospital.
On the way to the hospital, the baby stopped breathing and was unconscious, police said, according to KDKA.
Doctors said the baby’s “grave” condition was not consistent with a fall from a bassinet, rather it was likely caused by at least three blows to the head, according to court records obtained by WTAE. The boy suffered skull fractures, broken shoulders and spinal cord injuries, according to the outlet.
The 28-year-old father is now facing charges for the injuries caused to the infant and the twins, according to court documents and WPXI.
He was arrested Sept. 10 and charged with five counts of aggravated assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to court documents. He was denied bail.
The dad’s attorney information was not listed. McClatchy News is not naming the man to protect the identity of the children.
The 4-year-old twins told a family member their dad punched them and threw them across a room, according to a criminal complaint, reported by WPXI. The twins also told police he threw the baby on the floor, according to KDKA.
Officers searched the apartment to find shattered glass covering the floor, according to WPXI. The father was found hiding in the basement of the apartment building, police told KDKA.
The man is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 18.
This story was originally published September 12, 2024 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Dad threw 4-month-old boy and caused skull fractures while mom was at work, PA cops say."
