scarlett873
<font color=hotpink>Surrounded by true friends<br>
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2002
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how terribly sad is this? it just makes me so angry to hear things like this...there are people in this world who would make amazing parents who desperately want a child, but are having difficulty in conceiving. and then there are parents like this...
Father admits scalding baby, authorities say
Child welfare workers twice had been told of bruises on girl, who now is clinging to life.
By Vic Ryckaert
vic.ryckaert@indystar.com
March 25, 2004
Twice in the past month, child welfare workers had been told that 16-week-old Alexia Meineke faced abuse at home.
But they left her in the care of her parents, and now she is clinging to life with burns on her face, ears and torso after, prosecutors say, her father tortured her with scalding water.
Anthony Meineke, 18, was charged with seven felonies Wednesday. Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Alexia is in critical condition at Riley Hospital for Children and may not survive.
"This is one of those cases that demonstrates man's capacity to commit evil against other human beings," Brizzi said. "I can't explain what the motive could be for the birth father of this young 4-month-old girl to torture her in such a way."
Officials with the Family and Social Services Administration could not be reached for comment. Public records did not show what action was taken by child welfare workers to protect the child.
Meineke was arrested Friday after he called medics to a home in the 5800 block of Lawton Loop, West Drive. According to court records, Alexia was rushed to Community Hospital North, where she was treated for burns, fractured ribs and a fractured skull.
The child's mother, Amie Hammer, was at work and school when the abuse occurred, Brizzi said. Meineke, a restaurant worker, does not live at the home, but prosecutors said he went there several times a week to care for his daughter.
When paramedics arrived Friday, police said, Meineke claimed he accidentally had spilled hot coffee on Alexia. Police found a broken cup and coffee on the floor. Later, police say, Meineke admitted staging the scene and told them he bit, hit and scalded the baby because she would not stop crying.
In statements to Lawrence police, Meineke likened Alexia's screams to fingernails on a chalkboard.
Dr. Jim Koumanis told police the baby is in pain and will be permanently disfigured.
"She will require multiple surgeries" throughout her life if she survives, Dr. Antoinette Laskey told police, "and will experience great pain."
Trouble for Alexia first surfaced Feb. 20. That's when Community Hospital North workers notified the state's Office of Families and Children of suspicious bruises on the infant. Her father brought her to the hospital for treatment and told staff that Alexia accidentally fell off his lap and hit her head. Police say Meineke told them he had lied to the hospital and now admits he punched Alexia in the back of her head.
On March 14, child welfare officials received an anonymous call regarding a strange bruise above Alexia's lip, court records say. A caseworker visited the home March 15 but could not determine the cause of the bruise. But Meineke later told police he bit the child because she would not stop crying.
Doctors took a second look at Alexia's Feb. 20 CAT scan and located a fracture on her skull, police said. Another scan performed March 19 found multiple skull fractures.
Alexia also has a broken rib and bite marks on her left thigh and left elbow, police said.
Meineke, of the 7300 block of Railhead Court, was charged with seven counts of felony battery. He could face 89 years in prison if he's convicted.
"Mr. Meineke told me that he wanted to go to jail immediately so he could begin to get help with his problems," Detective Sgt. Matthew Miller wrote in court documents.
"He told me he has anger control problems," Miller wrote. "He added that sometimes he wants to hurt people for no reason."
Father admits scalding baby, authorities say
Child welfare workers twice had been told of bruises on girl, who now is clinging to life.
By Vic Ryckaert
vic.ryckaert@indystar.com
March 25, 2004
Twice in the past month, child welfare workers had been told that 16-week-old Alexia Meineke faced abuse at home.
But they left her in the care of her parents, and now she is clinging to life with burns on her face, ears and torso after, prosecutors say, her father tortured her with scalding water.
Anthony Meineke, 18, was charged with seven felonies Wednesday. Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Alexia is in critical condition at Riley Hospital for Children and may not survive.
"This is one of those cases that demonstrates man's capacity to commit evil against other human beings," Brizzi said. "I can't explain what the motive could be for the birth father of this young 4-month-old girl to torture her in such a way."
Officials with the Family and Social Services Administration could not be reached for comment. Public records did not show what action was taken by child welfare workers to protect the child.
Meineke was arrested Friday after he called medics to a home in the 5800 block of Lawton Loop, West Drive. According to court records, Alexia was rushed to Community Hospital North, where she was treated for burns, fractured ribs and a fractured skull.
The child's mother, Amie Hammer, was at work and school when the abuse occurred, Brizzi said. Meineke, a restaurant worker, does not live at the home, but prosecutors said he went there several times a week to care for his daughter.
When paramedics arrived Friday, police said, Meineke claimed he accidentally had spilled hot coffee on Alexia. Police found a broken cup and coffee on the floor. Later, police say, Meineke admitted staging the scene and told them he bit, hit and scalded the baby because she would not stop crying.
In statements to Lawrence police, Meineke likened Alexia's screams to fingernails on a chalkboard.
Dr. Jim Koumanis told police the baby is in pain and will be permanently disfigured.
"She will require multiple surgeries" throughout her life if she survives, Dr. Antoinette Laskey told police, "and will experience great pain."
Trouble for Alexia first surfaced Feb. 20. That's when Community Hospital North workers notified the state's Office of Families and Children of suspicious bruises on the infant. Her father brought her to the hospital for treatment and told staff that Alexia accidentally fell off his lap and hit her head. Police say Meineke told them he had lied to the hospital and now admits he punched Alexia in the back of her head.
On March 14, child welfare officials received an anonymous call regarding a strange bruise above Alexia's lip, court records say. A caseworker visited the home March 15 but could not determine the cause of the bruise. But Meineke later told police he bit the child because she would not stop crying.
Doctors took a second look at Alexia's Feb. 20 CAT scan and located a fracture on her skull, police said. Another scan performed March 19 found multiple skull fractures.
Alexia also has a broken rib and bite marks on her left thigh and left elbow, police said.
Meineke, of the 7300 block of Railhead Court, was charged with seven counts of felony battery. He could face 89 years in prison if he's convicted.
"Mr. Meineke told me that he wanted to go to jail immediately so he could begin to get help with his problems," Detective Sgt. Matthew Miller wrote in court documents.
"He told me he has anger control problems," Miller wrote. "He added that sometimes he wants to hurt people for no reason."
