Melrose, NM–On March 5, police were called to the emergency room at Plains Regional Medical Center in regards to a 3-month-old baby girl. The child was suffering, among other injuries, broken arms and skull fractures.
The officer approached the child’s family in the waiting room. While questioning the family about the injuries, Phillip Holmes’ young son said he knew how the baby got hurt…‘Dad chokes the baby.’ A family member shushed the child before he could say anymore and told the officer he couldn’t use the boy’s statement because he was an ‘unreliable source.’
The baby was transported to the hospital earlier that day after her mother called 911. The mother stated that she was trying to feed the baby, but became worried when the child wouldn’t hold her own bottle and she cried when her arms were touched.
The child had two broken arms, skull fractures, bleeding beneath the scalp, and broken ribs that had been in the process of healing for about three weeks. A doctor told the officer that based on X-rays, the only possible explanation was that the child’s arms had been grabbed ‘with a lot of force’ and ‘torqued’ until they broke. She also found evidence that indicated the baby was grabbed by the neck, causing the neck bones to stretch.
After Holmes’ son volunteered that little tid-bit, Holmes was questioned further…and boy, did he have a story to tell! First, he told officers that the baby fell off a bed and was mauled by a dog. Of course, there was no evidence the child had been mauled. So, he came up with another tale; he was in the kitchen holding the baby and he accidentally dropped her. Uh-huh. He told police several times that it was an accident, he didn’t mean to hurt the baby.
Phillip Holmes, 25, was arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, a first-degree felony. His bond has been set at $25,000.
As for the little boy who spoke up…I would be concerned for his safety. I certainly hope someone is keeping a close eye on him.
Phillip’s Myspace. Thanks InTheSky13.
Tazzzz has this one covered in the forums.
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