Cape man charged with assault over baby's brain damage

A 21-year-old Cape Girardeau man was charged Wednesday with first-degree assault for allegedly causing brain damage and fractures to his 7-week-old infant.

If the baby dies, Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said, Allen Ray Walker Jr. could face homicide charges.

After returning from work at about 3 p.m. Sunday, the infant's mother checked on her child in his crib and saw he was pale and had a bruise over his left eye, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case.

The child was taken to an area hospital and later transferred to the Children's Hospital in St. Louis.

In an interview with police, Walker told police a Pack-and-Play fell on the child but also admitted he didn't believe that would cause such serious injuries. According to the affidavit, he also told police that from the time the mother left for work he was the only guardian present with the children.

Another infant was also being taken care of in the home.

In the affidavit issued by Cpl. Darren Estes, he writes that a treating physician noted that a mark in the bruise above the infant's eye was consistent with a wedding band. Police noted in the affidavit that Walker was wearing a wedding band on his left hand while still at the residence.

An affidavit from two doctors treating the infant at Children's Hospital in St. Louis says the infant suffered skull fractures, bleeding in the brain, broken ribs and bleeding behind both eyes.

Dr. Adrienne D. Alzemis and Dr. Jamie Spurrier wrote the account of a Pack-and-Play falling on the child is not consistent with his injuries.

"The presence of bilateral retinal hemorrhages is consistent with an inflicted, forceful shaking mechanism," they wrote in the medical affidavit. "The rib and tibial fractures are consistent with nonaccidental trauma."

In addition, the doctor's wrote they have cause to suspect the infant was the victim of maltreatment or physical abuse.

Walker is being held on a $250,000 cash-only bond. Walker is prior offender in Cape Girardeau County, pleading guilty to felony domestic assault in June 2008.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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