The safest place for an infant should be in a parents’ arms. Tragically, too many children continue to be harmed by their mothers and/or fathers every day. Caregivers sometimes even kill helpless children during fits of unimaginable rage.
Before parents leave the hospital with their newborns, they are informed about the dangers of shaking or lashing out at infants who won’t stop crying. They are also provided with coping mechanisms such as leaving a crying baby in a safe space (like a crib) and walking away to cool down. Sadly, a Pennsylvania man was recently charged after he allegedly assaulted his 1-month-old baby girl, who is now in critical condition.
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A 1-month-old baby in Meadville, Pennsylvania, was taken to a hospital with severe head trauma.
On September 16, Tyler Thomas Acker, 26, from Meadville, and his 1-month-old daughter were picked up by a relative, who drove Acker to work and then cared for the baby, according to a police affidavit obtained by The Meadville Tribune. The relative contacted Thomas after dropping him off at work about injuries observed on the baby and then took her to Meadville Medical Center. Not long afterward, the infant was flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh with severe head trauma, according to the Pennsylvania State Police at Meadville.
The infant was in critical condition.
A doctor at UPMC Children’s Hospital said the infant’s injuries were consistent with a heavy motor vehicle crash, according to police. In a probable cause affidavit filed on September 18, per the Tribune, police offered an update on the baby’s condition. She was on a ventilator and in critical condition after receiving brain and facial injuries, including bleeding on and around the brain, damaged brain tissue, and seizures.
Acker reportedly confessed what happened to the police.
Although Acker initially suggested the infant received her injuries while under the care of the babysitter, he ultimately confessed to police. He claimed that lack of sleep over the weekend as his daughter had a fever prompted him to lash out in frustration, the Tribune reported.
He allegedly grabbed her by the zipper of her bodysuit and “forcefully” ripped her from a bassinet, causing the baby’s head to jerk forward and backward, according to the police affidavit. Acker also allegedly threw the infant onto a bed and then across the bed, causing her to roll several times, before throwing a bottle at her head.
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Additionally, the father was accused of assaulting his 5-year-old.
After police investigated the incident with the baby, Acker also was accused of assaulting his 5-year-old daughter, who was discovered to have a bruise on her forehead, per the Tribune. Acker reportedly told police he may have caused the bruise a week prior when he reached into the back seat of his vehicle to strike her when she acted out, according to another police affidavit.
Acker faces multiple felony charges.
The Erie Times-News detailed the charges Acker now faces. On September 19, he was charged with one first-degree felony of aggravated assault, one second-degree felony of aggravated assault against someone younger than 6 years old, and one second-degree felony of endangering the welfare of children for the incident involving his 1-month-old daughter. Additionally, Acker was charged with a misdemeanor of simple assault related to the incident involving his 5-year-old. Bail was set at $250,000 total.
Acker has bail hearings set for September 23 and preliminary hearings set for October 3, the Tribune reported.
