(AP) – A 9-week-old Missouri baby whose father is accused of
sticking his fingers down the child’s throat to stop his crying has died, and
the father is now facing an upgraded criminal charge.
Wentzville Assistant Police Chief Paul West says the boy died Monday at a St.
Louis hospital after a family court judge ordered that he be removed from
life-support.
The parents, 19-year-old Robert Burnette and 20-year-old Megan Hendricks, were
originally charged with felony child abuse or neglect. On Tuesday, the St.
Charles County prosecutor upgraded the charge against Burnette to child abuse
resulting in death.
Police say Burnette shoved his fingers down the infant son’s throat, violently
shook him, picked him up by his neck and threw him against a wall.
Police say Hendricks watched but didn’t intervene.
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