Richard Elias, 22, of Peabody faces assault and battery charges after he reportedly shook and head-butted his 7-week-old daughter this past Saturday evening at the family’s apartment because she had been crying.
What Happened
The Salem News reports that Elias was playing video games and drinking beer that evening when his daughter’s crying began to bother him. Elias then shook the infant and hit his head against hers, which caused her head to feel like a “pillow or a sponge.” Afterward, the baby had seizures for roughly 4 hours before Elias took her to an area hospital. She was then rushed to a Boston hospital for further medical treatment.
Authorities have confirmed that the little girl sustained a traumatic brain injury and experienced bleeding in her brain. The infant’s mother, Rachel, 37, had been out at a party Saturday evening and was not home at the time of the incident.
Officials have also learned that Elias shook his daughter on October 19 because she had soiled a diaper he had just put on her. Elias further stated to police that at one point he was trying to bounce his daughter on his knee but did not support her neck. Authorities have also reported that Elias forcefully “threw” his daughter onto his shoulder, with her head hitting his collarbone. The baby girl began suffering seizures following the incidents on October 19.
Elias continues to be held on bail at the Middleton Jail and is due back in court next Monday for a dangerousness hearing. He has entered pleas of not guilty in answer to the assault and battery charges.
Child Abuse Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 772,000 children were determined to be victims of abuse and neglect across the U.S. in 2008. The CDC further reports that infants and young children under age 4 are at the highest risk of suffering injury and death from abuse.
When Should You Contact a Massachusetts Child Injury Law Firm?
If your child has been seriously injured by another’s negligence, you shouldn’t have to pay for ongoing medical care and treatment. A severe injury may require lifelong care and financial support.
Contact the experienced Boston child injury attorneys with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options before you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company, or hire a lawyer. Call us at (888) 208-1695 to receive your free legal consultation today. And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.
DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

