MOXEE, Wash. – A 36-year-old Moxee man is facing a homicide by abuse charge for the death of his three-month-old son, according to court documents.
On March 11, court documents say that Moxee Police officers and medical personnel responded to the 100 block of Rile Lane at 7:20 p.m. to a report of an infant having difficulty breathing and going limp.
The infant was brought to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead.
An autopsy from the next day found that the cause of death was an “acute left subdural hematoma” and later revised on March 18 to “Shaken Baby Syndrome.”
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs “when a parent or other caregiver shakes a baby out of anger or frustration, often because the baby will not stop crying,” resulting in serious brain injury.
An investigation found that on March 11, Jon Paul Gaffney, 36, was home alone with his son for over 12 hours. An interview with his wife alleged that Gaffney had been abusive with him the week before his death.
In an interview on March 20, Gaffney reportedly admitted to hitting and throwing his son out of frustration and anger.
Gaffney was booked into jail after the interview. He was given permission to attend his child’s funeral on March 23 via Zoom.
Court documents say Gaffney’s bail was set for $750,000. His hearing is set for Thu., April 4 at 9 a.m.
