Columbia man charged after 3-month-old hospitalized with life-threatening injuries

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Prosecutors charged a Columbia man Thursday after his 3-month-old baby was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries on Wednesday morning.

Muhire Augustin, 30, is charged with abuse or neglect of a child involving serious emotional or physical injury and first-degree child endangerment involving physical injury.

The department shared on Facebook that officers went to the 10 block of Fourth Avenue at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday for a report of child abuse. There, they arrested 30-year-old Muhire Augustin on suspicion of child abuse and child endangerment after finding a 3-month-old baby hurt.

Boone County Jail records show that Augustin was booked into the jail around 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

Columbia police arrested Augustin on Wednesday after officers were dispatched to University Hospital at about 7:45 a.m. for a suspected child abuse investigation, according to a probable cause statement. The baby had been taken to University of Missouri Children’s Hospital.

A doctor told investigators the baby had multiple skull fractures, brain hemorrhages, rib fractures in different stages of healing, a fractured bone in the left shoulder and a healing fracture below the right elbow, according to the statement. The doctor described the skull injuries as “pretty horrific” and said the baby had an “extremely low chance of survival.”

The statement says the baby required surgery and intubation. Another emergency room doctor reported observing multiple posterior rib fractures and bleeding in the eyes, which the physician identified as findings associated with shaken baby syndrome.

Augustin told investigators he was unemployed and had been the baby’s primary caregiver while the child’s mother worked overnight, according to the statement. He allegedly said he had been responsible for caring for the baby since the mother returned to work Nov. 4.

Augustin told police he was bathing the baby in a round plastic tub on the night of Nov. 10 while the mother was at work. He allegedly said the baby later began crying and that he slipped on water while carrying the child through the living room. Augustin claimed he fell backward and the baby fell from his arms and struck their head on the wooden floor.

The statement says Augustin’s account of when the alleged fall occurred changed during his interviews with investigators.

Augustin allegedly told police the baby did not cry after the fall, kept its eyes closed and was not moving or breathing normally. He said he attempted rescue breaths and chest compressions but did not call 911, according to the statement.

During his first interview, Augustin estimated that about an hour passed between the alleged fall and when he called the baby’s mother. The statement says the mother returned home from work and took the baby to the hospital.

When investigators asked why he did not call emergency services, Augustin allegedly said, “Because 911 didn’t come in my head right at the time that happened.”

Investigators executed a search warrant at the family’s residence. Augustin allegedly said he used a mop to clean water from the area where he claimed to have fallen.

The statement says a detective found the mop completely dry and brittle. Investigators also reported finding dust on the floor and no obvious signs that the area had recently been mopped. The baby’s mother told investigators she did not notice water on the floor when she returned home, according to the statement.

A crime scene investigator also found red spots on the shirt Augustin allegedly wore at the time of the reported fall. The statement says the stains presumptively tested positive for human blood. Augustin allegedly told investigators the stains were tomato sauce.

An officer wrote in the statement that Augustin’s account of the alleged fall did not explain the multiple fractures in different stages of healing.

Boone County Jail records show Augustin was booked into the jail at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

The Columbia Police Department said the investigation remains ongoing. ABC 17 News has requested an interview with the department and is waiting to hear back.