A father from Lakewood, Washington, is facing charges of first-degree assault after allegedly shaking his infant nearly to death. He admitted to police the child’s crying reportedly made the man angry, causing him to shake the little one. Eventually, the child’s mother returned to the home and discovered that something was off about the infant.
Police noted that this isn’t the first time the father has been reported for child abuse. He had previously faced charges related to another child. Currently, the infant in this latest incident remains hospitalized from his injuries.
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The man confessed to the crime.
Twenty-seven-year-old Fernandez Manaia Fruean admitted to police that he violently shook his 2-month-old son, according to a Lakewood Police Department reportĀ shared by KIRO 7.Ā Fruean claimed the infant’s crying was frustrating him. Sadly, the shaking caused the infant significant injuries.
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The infant's injuries are quite serious.
When the infant was found unresponsive, Fruean and the baby’s mother, Tiare Tufono, drove him to St. Clare Hospital instead of calling 911. The infant was then taken to Mary Bridge Childrenās Hospital on December 18. Upon examination, doctors found the baby had a brain bleed, fractured ribs, and a broken collarbone. Currently the infant remains on life support.
The father confessed that he was angry when it happened.
During an interview by detectives, the father admitted that he “vigorously” shook his son for five minutes. He was angry the child wouldn’t stop crying. According to police reports, Fruean then laid the boy face down, going to sleep. It would be at least six hours before the baby received medical care.
Tufono told police that she woke up around 3 a.m. and saw Fruean feeding the baby. Later, she left the home to take other relatives to school. She was not charged in connection with the incident.
This isn't Fruean's first instance of reported abuse, police say.
Fruean has previously faced charges related to injuries on another child. As a part of his sentence, he had to participate in parenting classes. During questioning, police noticed inconsistencies in his story, eventually leading to his confession.
Fruean didn't seem to show remorse for his actions.
“During the interview and after he confessed, I never saw him become emotional,” a detective noted in the police report. Police got a search warrant to search the family’s home for evidence related to the crime.
The father was taken to Pierce County Jail. He has been charged with first-degree assault, but the investigation is ongoing. If the infant doesn’t survive his injuries, police say they can amend the charge to first-degree murder.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is [available 24/7](https://childhelphotline.org/).
