Ohio police have arrested a teen father after his nearly 7-month-old baby died allegedly due to violent mishandling.
Last week, Michael Decker,18, was charged with a single felony count of endangering children after medical officials determined his infant son, Adrien Decker, was brain dead. Adrien was taken off of life support on Thursday after suffering hemorrhaging in his brain, damage to his spine in his neck, and fractured ribs, according to the Newark Advocate.
In the criminal complaint, which was obtained by the Advocate, it states police were allegedly called to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus on Tuesday, a day after Adrien was checked into the hospital unresponsive with brain swelling and rib fractures.
Adrien’s mother told investigators that Decker was with the baby a couple of hours before she realized Adrien stopped breathing, PEOPLE reports. The mother allegedly told police that Decker yelled at a crying Adrien and then “roughly” put him into a bouncing seat so hard that the baby hit his head,” according to the Advocate.
The complaint from Adrien’s mother says the baby instantly stopped crying, and they all went to back to sleep. Decker was identified by police on Thursday when Adrien’s death was announced. Decker is now being held on a $250,000 bond. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family financially; Adrien’s funeral is being arranged, PEOPLE reports.
