Authorities have arrested a 23 year old Evansville man on two counts of Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury to a Child Under 14.
According to Evansville Police, investigators believe Stephen Elsey was watching his 2 month old daughter on February 14th when he told them he became upset when the female infant would not stop crying and he intentionally banged her head against the metal railing of a pack and play crib. Police say the infant suffered a fractured skull during the assault.
During the medical treatment, hospital staff also reportedly found a healing wound on one of the girl’s collar bones. Police say Elsey stated he may have caused that injury during an incident in January when he was upset with the infant and forcefully laid her down in her crib.
Authorities indicate that Elsey originally denied knowing how the girl was injured, but police report he then claimed it was an accident and she was injured when she fell from his lap. After several interviews, he reportedly told investigators he injured the infant when she would not stop crying.
Elsey was arrested Wednesday and is lodged at the Vanderburgh County Jail.