Columbia man accused of child abuse
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Boon County prosecutors charged a Columbia man in connection with a child abuse investigation.
According to a probable cause statement, Columbia police officers responded to University Hospital for a report of a three-month-old child with rib fractures. Doctors believed the child had new fractures and healing fractures. Investigators looked over medical records which they said showed signs of "non-accidental trauma."
Court documents said Dontarius Marks and another person told a detective that the child recently rolled out of her crib. They also told the detective that Marks sometimes rubs the child's torso to help the child who suffers from constipation. Marks said his hands sometimes experience numbness and it was possible he didn't know how hard he squeezed the child's torso.
According to the probable cause statement, Marks did not deny causing the fractures when speaking with police but said he did not cause them on purpose.
Documents said the child was taken to the hospital after a woman heard popping sounds while holding the child. Investigators said that Boone County's Children Division did not report any previous incidents with the family.
Online court records show Marks' bond is $25,000. A bond hearing is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
