Parents are informed about the risks of shaking a newborn, even for a brief minute, before they are allowed to leave the hospital with their babies. Death or permanent brain damage are possible outcomes of shaken infant syndrome.
Sadly, a father from Pennsylvania was prosecuted recently after his baby passed away after reportedly being dropped and shook.
After the death of his 3-month-old child, 37-year-old Eriezer Melendez Jr. was taken into custody and accused. The baby was transferred to a neighboring hospital.
On November 15 after becoming unconscious. Since his infant daughter died away from her wounds, Melendez is now facing severe accusations.
Additional Information from CafeMom: A Texas Man May Be the First Executed for Death from “Shaken Baby Syndrome”
The little girl was transported to a hospital on November 15 after becoming unconscious.
According to Fox 43 News,
Melendez and the mother of the child spent the night at a relative’s house in Perry County, Pennsylvania, on November 14.
After being found unconscious the next morning, the baby was taken by EMS to a hospital. The infant girl was in cardiac arrest when she got there.
Days after suffering severe injuries, the baby passed away. Police told ABC 27 News that the infant had “extensive subdural hematomas and was comatose”
When she was assessed by Hershey Medical Center personnel. The baby had injuries that were almost deadly, as the police said in their criminal paperwork.
Days later, on November 24, she passed away from her wounds. Initially, the father’s and mother’s versions of events were identical.
According to Fox 43 News, the baby’s mother reported to the authorities that her infant woke up twice that night, seeming to be clogged.
Melendez reportedly brought her to a shower when she woke up for the second time in the hopes that the steam would relieve her congestion.
According to the baby’s mother, she once went into the restroom to discover her infant in Melendez’s arms, unconscious.
She tried life-saving techniques and then dialed 911. At initially, Melendez’s version of events mirrored that of his infant’s mother.
Additional information from CafeMom: After violently shaking a 4-month-old daughter to death, a father was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.
Later, Melendez acknowledged that he had dropped and shaken the infant. However, Melendez’s tale revealed “deviations” when troopers questioned him and the baby’s mother in the hospital,
According to Fox 43 News. While tending to her, Melendez acknowledged that he had dropped the baby after he slept off. He further said that following the event,
He tried to wake up this daughter by giving her a shake “one good time.” After the baby reportedly died from being shook, the Pennsylvania father is now facing charges.
Melendez is facing many accusations in connection with the death of his daughter. The Daily Voice claims that among them were four crimes and one misdemeanor: