A Missouri father is facing charges of child abuse after authorities say he rough-handled his 2-month-old daughter causing 14 fractures to the infant.
20-year-old Richard Leonard, and his wife had reportedly taken their daughter to a doctor who advised them to take their child to the hospital due to a large amount of bruising on her body, according to a probable cause affidavit. When the couple refused to take their child to the hospital the doctor reportedly called the Department of Family Services hotline to report the abuse.
The doctor informed the hotline that the child had 14 different fractures which were all at different stages of healing which the affidavit said are “classic signs of abuse.”
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Leonard had initially claimed that he had dropped the baby after tripping
Leonard had initially claimed that he had dropped the baby after tripping and then changed his story saying that he had fallen on top of her after tripping, according to the affidavit.
Doctors told authorities that some of the child’s injuries were throughout her body but not all of them and that they were all in various states of healing, the affidavit said.
Upon interviewing both parents investigators learned that Leonard had been allegedly abusing the child for months. He allegedly confessed during the interview that he used “more force than necessary” while completing tasks and “immediately felt bad when she reacted accordingly.”
The alleged abuse took the form of being too aggressive and forceful during things like dressing her, swaddling, and diaper changes, according to the affidavit.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 13, 2025, and no other information is being released at this time.
“The lack of sleep, constant crying during diaper changes and his own anger issues had become a problem resulting in abuse,” police said.
He is now facing charges of child abuse and as of Friday reportedly has been released from custody on a $50,000 bond, according to police. He is prohibited from contacting the child’s mother as well as having any interaction with his daughter as a condition of the bond.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 13, 2025, and no other information is being released at this time. No charges were filed against the mother, according to police.
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