WENTZVILLE Mo. (KMOV.com) – A baby was removed from life support and died late Monday night after allegeldy being abused by his father.
Police said Robert Burnette caused serious physical injury and head trauma to his 6-week-old son, identified only as “J.B,” by violently shaking him, slamming him into a bed face first, and holding him there and shoving his fingers down the baby’s throat.
The mother, Megan Hendricks, witnessed the abuse but did not seek help, police said. The alleged abuse occurred between Oct. 18 and Nov. 7.
Burnette admitted to shaking J.B and “being too rough with him” during an interview, police said.
Hendricks was also interviewed and said she said she saw Burnette shake J.B on more than three occasions, according to officials. She also claims he grabbed the baby by the back of the neck and slammed him face first into a bed.
According to court documents, Hendricks said she refused to leave the situation with J.B because she didn’t want to have a confrontation with Burnette. Police said during her interview, she showed no emotion regarding the condition her son was in and only referred to him as “the kid.” They also claim she started to cry, but when the interviewer left the room, she immediately stopped crying and showed only anger and disdain.
Following the alleged abuse, the baby was being treated for bleeding of the brain, a lack of oxygen to brain tissue, possible liver contusions, and a list of other ailments.
Burnette is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond and charged with abuse or neglect of a child. Hendricks faces the same charges, but her bail is $250,000 cash only.