Father, 18, arrested after allegedly strangling infant son
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — An 18-year-old father was arrested Wednesday after allegedly strangling his infant son.
Charlie McPherron was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of aggravated child abuse, a probable cause affidavit filed in 3rd District Court shows.
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According to a West Jordan Police Department investigator, McPherron allegedly abused the boy in both West Jordan and South Jordan over the last week.
The victim, a 4-month-old, was brought to a hospital Wednesday with several wounds, including bruises on his neck, chin and forehead, the affidavit states.
The child’s mother told police that McPherron “choked” the child roughly a week ago after being upset that the baby was crying. She said McPherron also hurt the boy early Wednesday morning when the child was again crying.
The mother told police she found McPherron yelling at the child with his hands around the boy’s neck and yelled at him to get off the baby, the affidavit states.
When speaking with investigators, McPherron allegedly admitted to getting upset with the child on Tuesday, when the boy’s mother was at the grocery store.
He said he wanted the child to stop crying so he put his finger in the boy’s mouth, the affidavit states. After, he said the child fell out of a chair and hit his head on the floor.
McPherron also allegedly admitted to placing both of his hands on the child’s neck on Wednesday morning. According to the court documents, McPherron said the pressure he applied was enough to “make someone uncomfortable.”
When asked if he’d done something like that before, McPherron said he’d strangled the child once before, although he could not exactly remember when, the affidavit states.
If you suspect child abuse or neglect contact the DCFS 24/7 hotline: 855-323-3237. For more information, visit dcfs.utah.gov.
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