Trial next for accused father
WAYNESBURG – A Waynesburg man told police several stories explaining how his 2-month-old son sustained bleeding on the brain and retinal hemorrhaging in both eyes, injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
At the conclusion of a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Jeffrey Michael Kennedy, 19, of 268 W. Greene St., was held for court on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment for allegedly shaking his son, Maxxen Dorsey, into a state of unresponsiveness Jan. 16 in the Rices Landing home of the child’s mother, Samantha Dorsey.
Robert Cree, a state police investigator, testified before District Judge Lou Dayich that Kennedy initially told police when the baby cried he jerked him up by his onesie, possibly causing the injuries.
“Dr. (William) Patten (a pediatric critical care specialist at Ruby Memorial Hospital where the baby was taken on the day of the incident), said the baby suffered subdural hematomas, detached retinas and was in critical condition,” Cree said. “He told us at that point the injuries he observed were consistent with shaken baby syndrome.”
Cree said he spoke with Kennedy a second time and he said he tripped carrying the baby downstairs and fell on him.
“I found the doctor again and he said, ‘There is no way somebody falling on that baby caused this. There are no injuries consistent with an adult falling on the baby,'” Cree said.
Cree said after Kennedy was read his rights and informed he was a suspect, the defendant said he shook his son because he was crying, placed him in a chair and went back upstairs to do dishes. Cree said Kennedy told him he returned to check on the baby, found him unresponsive and shook him a second time. Kennedy told police he alerted Dorsey, who was in the shower, that something was wrong with their son.
When Kennedy was arrested Jan. 17, he told the final version of what occurred, according to Cree.
“When we were picking him up and taking him to the station to be processed, he said he was just going to tell us the truth. He said the baby was crying, and he shook him five times and he went unresponsive,” Cree said. “He told us he took the baby into the bathroom and told Samantha.”
Dorsey told the court she was sick for several days before the incident occurred and her stepmother, Shara Wolfe, watched the baby that morning for a couple of hours while Dorsey and Kennedy slept. Wolfe eventually left for a hair appointment and placed Maxxen in the care of his father, according to Dorsey.
“I went to take a shower and Jeff was watching Maxx. He came into the bathroom with Maxx on his arm and said, ‘Maxx is limp. He is not breathing,'” Dorsey said. “I frantically jumped out of the shower.”
Dorsey said she initially thought it was something to do with a periodic gasp in his breathing the baby had since birth but was told by doctors Maxxen was the victim of shaken baby syndrome. “He was blue. We dumped cold water on him and patted his back. Jeff called 911,” she said. “He (Maxxen) was nonresponsive. His eyes were barely open and rolled into the back of his head.”
Dorsey said Kennedy performed CPR, following instructions given by the 911 operator, while they waited for the ambulance to arrive.
Based on medical records obtained by investigators from Ruby Memorial Hospital, Maxxen suffered from subdural hematomas, metabolic acidosis, or an overabundance of acid in the body, and retinal hemorrhaging in both eyes, all consistent with nonaccidental trauma.
He remained in the hospital for 11 days undergoing various procedures, including two MRIs. Dorsey said doctors told her the baby must continue taking anti-seizure medication and it will be some time before the extent of the damages, particularly to his vision, will be known.
“The results of the MRI he had on Monday showed the hemorrhaging in his brain is not growing or shrinking. It is just stable,” Dorsey said.
Referring to Kennedy, Dorsey said, “He’s told several different stories of what happened but did not tell them to me.”
Kennedy is being held in Greene County jail on $75,000 cash bond.