In a fit of rage, a man from West Virginia reportedly hurled his baby son onto a bed frame and the floor, causing him to instantly become limp and cease breathing.
Zachary Williams, 27, the boy’s father, is now charged with murder and child abuse resulting in death when the boy passed away. The event happened at a residence in Jane Lew, some 100 miles northeast of Charleston, at roughly 9 a.m. on May 25.
Troops responded to a call for an unresponsive newborn, according to a criminal complaint from the West Virginia State Police. When they got there, they discovered paramedics giving the child CPR and hurried him to the hospital. An hour or so later, the boy was declared dead by the medical team.
Along with his mother, father, and grandparents, the youngster shared the house. Troopers initially spoke with the boy’s grandparents, who informed them that aside from a recurring cold, the boy was healthy when they departed for work at around eight in the morning. At that time, Williams and his mother were in charge of the youngster.
The affidavit states that when investigators woke up that morning, the mother said them her son was “completely fine.” She claimed that because of a cold, the boy was fussier than usual and refused to take a nap. Then, feeling herself growing irritated, she called Williams for assistance. After the mother had left the room, Williams shouted for her to return. Her son was “limp” and barely breathing when she dashed back into the bedroom.
A dispatcher instructed her to place the youngster on Williams’ side after she had him phone 911. According to the affidavit, her son’s respiration stopped entirely after she took this action. Until medical help arrived, she conducted CPR.
Williams told detectives that he began rocking the boy to try to calm him down after taking over his mother’s care. After that, Williams told investigators, the boy “went rigid and then limp and became unresponsive.”
According to the affidavit, an autopsy revealed the youngster died from a “severe skull fracture on the rear of the head,” even though police were unable to observe any significant injuries on him. According to police, the type of fracture is brought on by trauma.
Williams was being given his Miranda rights when troopers conducted another interview with him.
“In a recorded interview, Mr. Williams did confess to throwing the juvenile out of frustration, causing the juvenile to strike his head on a bed frame and the floor,” the complaint said.
“Mr. Williams also stated that it was all his fault,” the complaint added.
Williams was taken into custody by police and is currently being held without bond at the Central Regional Jail. It’s unknown if he has legal representation.
