Police: Man Bit & Killed Infant Son, Blamed It On Neighbor's Dog
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - An Itasca County man is accused of biting and killing his infant son, and blaming the bite marks on the neighbor's dog.
Emery James Jenkins, 38, of Deer River, Minnesota, is charged with one felony count of second-degree murder in the death of his 3-month-old son.
The baby died on Oct. 18, after two days in the hospital. The medical examiner found a skull fracture, blunt force trauma to the body, and cutting or biting injuries to the infant's chest, hands, fingers, feet and toes.
Jenkins told police he dropped the baby on his head in a bathtub and that the neighbor's dog had bit the baby boy while he was in a car seat wearing a monkey suit.
The boy's mother said she and Jenkins made up the story about the dog before calling 911, according to the criminal complaint.
She said Jenkins bit their son because he was crying and that he didn't want to take him to the doctor because of the bleeding bite wounds severe enough to soak through the baby's clothing.
In Jenkins' home, police found baby clothes and pillow cases with dried blood stains.
Previous girlfriends said that Jenkins has a history of violence and drug abuse, including the use of methamphetamine, according to the criminal complaint. One girlfriend told police that Jenkins had slammed a different son's head into a car door and made verbal threats about hurting the children.
Jenkins has received numerous assault charges, including a felony domestic assault conviction in 2010.
He faces up to 40 years behind bars.