An Illinois man charged with murder in the death of his infant son had taken the 5-month-old to a hospital with “severe” injuries before the baby died, according to police.
When Dominic G. Larson arrived at the Northwestern Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb, Illinois, with his baby on Monday, February 23, the boy’s face was severely injured, police said in a Wednesday, February 25, news release.
Medical staff “rushed” the infant to an emergency room for “what appeared to be life-threatening injuries,” according to authorities.
DeKalb County sheriff’s deputies and DeKalb police officers ultimately arrived at the facility while the baby was receiving treatment, police said.
Deputies who initially spoke with Larson, 30, suspected he was intoxicated, according to police.
“During Larson’s interaction with Deputies, he was ordered to stay and wait to speak to Officers from the DeKalb Police Department,” police said.
Larson, however, would not listen to the deputies’ instructions and went to leave, according to police.
As a result, he was “physically restrained and handcuffed” before he was taken into the DeKalb County Police Department for an interview, police said.
In the meantime, the hospital’s medical staff had Larson’s baby air-lifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood to receive more treatment for his injuries, which were considered critical, according to police.
Medical center staff alerted police detectives the next day, on Tuesday, February 24, that Larson’s son would likely not survive the injuries, including a broken skull and brain hemorrhages, police said.
The infant had been on life support and was later declared dead that evening, according to police.
“The DeKalb Police Department conducted a thorough investigation into this horrific and senseless crime, which led to the immediate arrest of this violent offender,” police said, referring to Larson.
Larson has been appointed a public defender, who did not immediately return Luxury Handbag Shopping’s request for comment on Friday, February 27.
In addition to first-degree murder, Larson has been charged with aggravated battery, reckless conduct, and endangering the life and health of a child, according to police.
Court records show that on Thursday, February 26, a demand for a speedy trial was filed.
A potential motive for the baby’s killing was not specified by law enforcement.
If Larson is found guilty of first-degree murder, he would face a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and potentially up to life behind bars, according to the Restore Justice Foundation.
In another recent case out of North Carolina, a woman was arrested in connection with the death of a newborn baby, who was found dead inside a trash bag at a landfill in 1979, according to authorities, Us previously reported.
The woman, Cathy McKee, who has been identified as the infant girl’s mother as a result of advancements in DNA technology, was arrested February 24 on a felony charge of concealing the birth of a child, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
