3-Month-Old Girl Suffers Serious Brain Injuries, Mother's Ex-Boyfriend Charged
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man accused of abusing his ex-girlfriend's infant daughter so severely doctors say the child suffered brain injuries is now behind bars.
The 3-month-old child continues to recover at UPMC Children's Hospital.
The baby's mother, Gabrielle Drdul, says she doesn't want to see the face of her ex-boyfriend. The suspect, Manderick Edwards, is Drdul's former boyfriend.
Edwards was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon, but it was postponed.
"My baby didn't deserve that," Drdul said, referring to her daughter's injuries.
According to the criminal complaint, a passerby said they saw Edwards tossing the young child over his shoulders and swinging her in the air. The alleged incident happened in the 500-block of Suismon Street on Pittsburgh's North Side in the early morning hours of last Wednesday.
When the passerby said something to Edwards about the way he was handling the baby, he reportedly punched that person and hit her friends, the criminal complaint reports. Police were then called.
They found Edwards, with the baby who is named Jamacia, a few blocks away on Cedar Avenue.
According to police, Jamacia had suffered several broken ribs, brain hemorrhages and seizures after being looked after by Edwards.
He is now charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and false identification to a law enforcement officer.
When police questioned Edwards last Wednesday morning, they say he gave them two fake names.
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Drdul says her daughter is now back on baby formula and doctors are hoping that her breathing tube may be removed soon.
As for Edwards, his preliminary hearing was postponed because prosecutors want to get testimony from doctors about the baby's condition.
It was 49 degrees the night Jamacia was outside, and police said she was wearing only a thin body suit, without socks or a hat.