1-year-old on life support, Grantsville police investigating possible abuse

GRANTSVILLE, Utah — Police in Grantsville are investigating a possible child abuse case that sent a 1-year-old to the hospital. 

Police said they have a father in custody while they investigate. The 1-year-old is in the hospital on life support, according to Sgt. Jeff Watson. 

“He was booked on some child abuse and neglect charges. But obviously, if the child dies, then we would upgrade the charges,” Watson said. “And right now they’re looking at a minimum of just a child abuse homicide. 

Visible signs of injury when police arrived

Sgt. Watson said the father called police to the home on Friday when the boy was unresponsive and not breathing. 

“Turned out there were multiple visible injuries,” Watson said. “I mean, literally from head to toe they could see bruising, and what appeared to be bite marks and problems with his eyes.” 

A press release from Grantsville Police said staff at Primary Children’s Hospital found “multiple internal injuries.”

“The injuries were a brain bleed, fractured rib which was in the stages of healing, a freshly fractured rib, and a bruise on one of the lungs,” the release said. “The bruising on the lung was not consistent with life-saving measures.” 

Police said the father denied knowing the cause of the injuries. But, they said, other children in the home told them the father was upset about being woken up.

Police also said that one of the other children told them they heard “a loud thud followed by the victim crying and then hearing their father’s voice.”

An investigation by Grantsville police continues.

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