An Indiana man is behind bars after a hospital found numerous healing and fresh injuries on an injured infant, according to authorities.
Fox 59 reports that the incident unfolded on April 14 when the child’s grandmother noticed a burn mark on the boy’s right shin, along with “a knot” on his other shin. She immediately called the police.
When officers arrived, the woman told them that the baby’s father, 22-year-old Colton Johnson, had been taking care of the baby throughout the day.
The baby was taken to the St. Francis Hospital, where doctors found he had a broken leg in two places. Medical staff contacted the Department of Child Services after “inconsistent statements by persons present on how the observed injuries had been sustained,” the arrest report stated.
Meanwhile, the victim was transferred to Riley’s Hospital for Children, where it was determined he had 19 fractures, including broken ribs. Some of the fractures were fresh, while some were older and healing, police said.
Authorities spoke to the child’s mother, who claimed she never noticed the baby’s leg swelling. Responding officers stated that the swelling was obvious; they noticed it right away.
The boy’s mother allegedly replied that the baby’s leg was burned after melting wax in a bathroom dripped onto him. Johnson agreed with the mother, adding that he cleaned the burn area and applied ointment to the baby’s injury.
Johnson then became emotional, according to investigators, and admitted he had previously picked his son up by the shoulder, yanked him, and forcefully laid him down.
“I must have broken those bones,” Johnson said, adding he takes full responsibility for the child’s injuries.
The baby’s mother reportedly admitted that she’s not always in the home, and Johnson generally cares for the infant.
A Riley’s Child Protection Team nurse practitioner told authorities the baby’s injuries were the “worst case of physical abuse I have ever seen,” WBRD reports.
Police arrested Johnson and charged him with domestic battery causing serious bodily injury, dependent neglect, and battery.
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[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
