NEWPORT, Pa. — A Harrisburg man has been charged with physically abusing a 3-month-old girl, causing the baby to suffer near-fatal injuries, according to police.
Eriezer Melendez Jr., 37, initially denied abusing the baby, according to Pennsylvania State Police. He later told police he fell asleep while holding the infant, and the girl fell off his lap. He then said he gave the baby "one good shake" in an effort to revive her, according to the criminal complaint.
The victim suffered extensive subdural hematomas and was comatose when medical staff at Hershey Medical Center examined her, according to police. The examination determined the baby's injuries were near-fatal, police claim in charging documents.
The alleged physical abuse occurred while Melendez and the baby's mother were staying overnight at a relative's home in Perry County on November 14, according to police.
The baby's mother told police the baby had awakened twice overnight and appeared to be congested. The second time the baby woke, at about 6:30 a.m., Melendez took her to the shower in hopes that the steam would help her congestion.
At that point, she told police, she entered the bathroom and found the baby unresponsive in Melendez's arms. She attempted lifesaving measures before calling 911. She denied having any physical contact with the baby before the baby was found to be unresponsive.
Melendez's initial account of the incident was similar to that of the baby's mother. But when the couple was confronted a few days later with the medical staff's determination that the victim's injuries were the result of suspected physical abuse, such as shaking, Melendez changed his account.
In the second interview with police, he allegedly admitted that the baby had fallen off his lap when he fell asleep. The baby's mother was in another room preparing a bottle at the time and did not see the fall, he told police. Melendez said he was scared, and took the baby to the shower in an attempt to remedy the baby's condition before her mother returned, he claimed. The baby at that time was moving, he said, but did not open her eyes.
He later admitted to shaking the baby "one good time," while trying to revive her. The baby's head rocked back and forth one time while he shook her, Melendez allegedly told police.
Melendez was arrested on Wednesday and charged with three counts of aggravated assault of a child, one count of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of simple assault.
He was remanded to Perry County Prison after failing to post bail of $300,000. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 4.
