Springfield man charged after infant suffers life-threatening injuries

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - A Springfield man is in the Greene County Jail after police say he abused his nearly six-week-old son, leaving the child with life-threatening injuries.

According to an investigator’s report on Aug. 7, in Greene County, officers responded to a house on July 28 and found the infant cold and unresponsive. EMS personnel said the child showed injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome.

Detectives say Kenai Kelley, the child’s father, initially denied harming the infant but later admitted he shook the baby forcefully by the legs, intentionally dropped the child face-first onto a hardwood floor from a height of a couple of feet, and used the infant’s own hands to strike the side of his head multiple times.

Kelley told investigators he was angry at the time and agreed he was the only person with care, custody and control of the child when the injuries occurred. He also acknowledged seeing abnormal bruising on the infant that morning but did not call 911 and went back to sleep, according to the statement.

The infant, who was five weeks and six days old at the time, was transported to Cox South and later flown to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Medical staff said the child had severe brain bleeding, significant brain swelling, retinal hemorrhages, multiple rib fractures and injuries consistent with abusive head trauma.

Medical personnel said the injuries were life-threatening, required emergency neurosurgical intervention and were not consistent with accidental causes. A Child Protection Program consult note from St. Louis Children’s Hospital said the findings were consistent with inflicted trauma, including shaking and striking, and delayed seeking of medical care.

Kelley is charged with abuse or neglect of a child. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, August 19th.

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