KEY POINTS

  • A 31-year-old Maryland man admitted to "shaking" his 2-month-old infant, police said
  • The child's cause of death was determined to be inflicted head trauma with blunt force injury to the torso
  • The father was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse resulting in death

A 31-year-old man in Fort Washington, Maryland, has been charged with murder after he admitted to "shaking" his 2-month-old infant son, police said Monday.

Officers and medical personnel were responding to a call at a residence in the 8000 block of Murray Hill Road on April 23 when they encountered the unresponsive child of Rodriquez Holeman, the Prince George County Police Department said in a statement.

The infant was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, police said.

The child's death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia determined the cause of death was inflicted head trauma with blunt force injury to the torso, police said.

According to police, Holeman admitted to "shaking" the baby.

"He was in sole care and custody of the victim when the injuries occurred," authorities said in the statement.

Holeman was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse resulting in death. Police said he also faces additional charges but did not provide more information.

Holeman is currently under the custody of the Department of Corrections. A commissioner has ordered him detained without bail.

A similar arrest was made last week in Melbourne, Florida, when a 30-year-old caregiver admitted to "violently" throwing a baby to the ground, resulting in the baby suffering brain compression, brain hemorrhage and a depressed fracture to the back of his head.

Police charged Cristian Cubillos with aggravated child abuse as aggravated assault after he told detectives the young boy hit the back of his head when Cubillos "violently threw" him to the ground on April 27. Cubillos had initially told investigators the baby was taking a nap and hit his head when he rolled over, becoming lethargic and unresponsive afterward.

Medical staff said the infant's injuries may cause him to suffer permanent blindness and other neurological issues.

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Representation. The child was rushed to the hospital, where he died shortly after. Pixabay
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