A New Hampshire man has been arrested after he allegedly caused his 3-month-old son to suffer more than 30 fractures, including breaking both of his legs.
The Nashua Police Department announced that Drew Babcock has been charged with eight counts of first-degree assault with domestic violence.
Authorities received a letter from the Department of Children, Youth and Families regarding a 3-month-old child who had “suffered serious injuries” on March 13, according to a news release shared by the department.
Detectives with the Special Investigations Division then launched a probe into the matter and determined that Babcock “had caused these injuries to his 3 month old son.”
Police obtained an arrest warrant and took Babcock into custody on March 13. He was being held without bail leading up to his arraignment in Nashua District Court.
The New Hampshire Union Leader obtained court documents, which revealed allegations about the extent of the child’s injuries. Additionally, the court documents included statements that Babcock made to investigators and family members.
Authorities claimed that the infant suffered approximately 30 fractures over the course of a two-month period. The injuries included breaks to both of his femurs and his clavicle, as well as other injuries that caused his lungs to fill with fluid.
Prosecutors said that Babcock claimed the infant was a colicky baby and that the father would often lose his temper over the condition. Amid his frustrations, Babcock allegedly started inflicting injuries on the boy when he was about 1 month old.
“He admitted that he did this because he lost control and [the baby] would not stop crying,” Assistant Hillsborough County Attorney Melissa Farr said during Babcock’s initial hearing, according to WMUR.
The probable cause affidavit states that Babcock allegedly admitted to his estranged wife that he squeezed the infant to stop him from crying. Babcock also said he “may have applied too much pressure.” However, “he did not realize that he had broken” his son’s bones.
“He stated that he would use approximately 50% of his strength during this time,” Farr said. “He admitted that he would conduct these maneuvers on [the victim] about two to three times a week.”
Babcock’s defense attorney, Joseph Fricano, argued that his client should receive bond because he had no prior criminal record and has a military background. “This is a man who is capable of following orders,” Fricano said, per the outlet.
However, a judge ultimately ordered that Babcock be held on preventive detention after he reportedly determined that he posed “a danger to the community.”
It is not currently clear if Babcock has entered a plea.
