What to Know
A Missouri newborn is fighting for his life after his father brutally attacked him. Emergency responders arrived at a home in the 1400 block of E. 24th Street in Springfield following a call about a lethargic infant making grunting sounds.
The infant’s parents, Kenai Logun Kelley and Starr Mariah Vesey, both 19, initially denied hurting their baby, but when Springfield Police began questioning the pair, their story took a heartbreaking turn. Police arrested Kelley and Vesey, who both face abuse charges related to their infant’s injuries.
The baby reportedly had visible injuries.
According to court records, EMS contacted police on July 28, 2026, after finding the baby, just shy of six weeks old, with visible injuries consistent with what police called “shaken baby syndrome.”
“I observed bruising around V1’s eyelids, broken blood vessels in both eyes, a bruise on his forehead, petechial-type marks on his torso and extremities, and that he had been cold and unresponsive inside the residence,” a detective wrote in the probable cause statement.
After first taking the infant to a local hospital, emergency staff airlifted him to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for more intensive treatment. After arriving, staff diagnosed the infant with a severe brain bleed, significant brain swelling, a retinal hemorrhage, rib fractures, and head trauma.
Kelley allegedly admitted to hurting his child.
At first, he denied abuse, but per court documents, he admitted he “played too rough” with his baby boy. Kelley reportedly showed police with a doll how he threw his son onto a hardwood floor from several feet above, which caused the baby to go limp.
The father allegedly “admitted he was angry at the time and agreed he was the only person who had care, custody, and control” of the infant when his injuries occurred. Kelley told police, “I did drop him on the floor, on purpose,” and may have used more force than he realized.
Vesey reportedly delayed calling for help.
According to court documents, Vesey told investigators she observed her baby acting abnormally, but did not call 911 for help. The mother said the baby “did not wake for feedings as usual and described him as unusually lethargic, refusing to eat, grunting, and having difficulty moving his right arm.”
She reportedly noticed a bruise on her baby’s head and watched as he stared off into space. But instead of calling 911, she contacted the pediatrician and waited hours for a call back.
The baby’s future remains unclear.
Victor Fugate created a GoFundMe to help with the family’s medical care costs. Fugate stated he could not give details about the ongoing case, but did give a small update on the baby on August 5.
“Baby Lewis is making some progress. He is doing so much better then he was last week. We are hopeful that things will turn out the best possible outcome. However we the family are still struggling to handle all the cost thats is building up. so continued prayers and share,” he wrote. “We appreciate each and everyone!”
Kelley, who is being held without bond, faces a child abuse charge, and Vesey faces a child endangerment charge.
