West Bend, WI - Michael Below, 30, is the babykiller du jour here at the Dreamin’ Demon. Congratulations, Michael! You have caused the death of your eight week old daughter Madison by severe and repeated abuse spanning half your baby girl’s life. Now baby Madison is dead. And you, Michael Below, you vile piece of filth, are charged with first-degree reckless homicide. Good job, assclown.
The abuse of Madison Below began when she was about four weeks old. Her crying apparently annoyed her father, Michael Below, and he responded by hitting, throwing, or squeezing his baby girl. Because, y’know, that’s how you make a newborn stop crying. Guess the new wore off pretty quick for Daddy Mike.
On Sunday, August 10, Below was home alone with Madison at about 9:20 p.m. when she started crying again - probably because her ribs still hurt from being fractured a few weeks before. Below responded to his tiny daughter’s distress by swinging her by her feet until her head slammed into the changing table - not once, but several times.
The details are a little bit sketchy about when Madison was taken for medical care and by whom, but Michael Below was arrested on August 14 and charged with child abuse while Madison remained on life support for her traumatic brain injuries. The baby had both new and old head trauma and several broken ribs.
Michael Below initially told investigators that Madison just “slipped out of his hands and fell to the floor”, according to the criminal complaint. But when confronted with the medical evidence, Below ‘fessed up a little bit. He said that he picked Madison up by her ankles and pushed her down on the table so hard that “he could hear Madison’s head hit the table.” And he didn’t stop until he had repeated the babyslamming “several” times.
This past week, it became obvious that Madison’s brain swelling was not going to go down and that she was gravel injured. The ventilator keeping her alive was removed, and on Saturday, she died at the age of two months.
Michael D. Below is charged with child abuse and first-degree reckless homicide. He is being held at the Washington County Jail on $50,000 bond and faces up to sixty years if convicted.
Einley hit me to this topic in our forums - thanks!
36 responses so far ↓
1
Splash
Aug 27, 2008 at 9:31 am -When will the baby killing stop? Where the hell was her mother? This shit piss’s me off to no end. R.I.P. Baby Madison.
2
claddaghgirl
Aug 27, 2008 at 9:56 am -I feel like sobbing reading this. The pain this poor baby felt practically from the time she was born.
Michael Below, you are a worthless piece of shit that does not to deserve to be alive. I hope you die screaming!
3
Dancer82
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:07 am -That was my question as I read this. I seriously believe in eye for an eye. We need to take this bastard and break a couple of his ribs, throw him against the wall and anything else he did to this poor baby. I’m surprised he didn’t sexually abuse her. He’s a sick freak that needs punishment for the rest of his life!
4
Trish
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:12 am -OMG that poor precious baby.
Ok…..I have a strong faith in God, but when I read these kind of stories my faith waivers just alittle.
Assclowns like this are blessed to have a child and end up abusing them. My husband and I tried for so many years to have a baby and unfortunately it wasn’t in god’s plan for us. I have accepted that fact along time ago. Then I read stories like this and I just ask Why?
5
Peeperann
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:14 am -I actually am sobbing read this. Oh, God. Poor Maddy, HOW can someone do this???? I’m looking at my pregnant daughter in laws belly and if anyone hurt my grandchild I would kill them.
Poor beautiful angel, God bless and i’m so sorry for the pain you went thru in you’re little life.
Where the fuck was the mother??? And how didn’t she know he was hurting that baby???????? AND if she did, she better end up in prison too……………
6
Peeperann
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:15 am -Trish, do not let your faith waver, it was evil that did this, not God.
7
SNOOKIE
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:22 am -It’s hard not to Peeper-my faith left me a long time ago-RIP baby girl
8
bronc
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:26 am -Only 60 years for beating an 8 week old baby to death?
Anyone would like to guess what he would’ve gotten if he did the same thing to a cop?
And then some wonder why the babykilling goes on.
9
Trish
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:29 am -Hugs…Thanks Peeper..and I know your right
10
JESSGA03
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:30 am -Well I dont know about all the other doctors in the other states but here in Georgia when a child is that small they go to the doctor ALOT! So WTF? And if my baby were that damn fussy I would be calling my doctor trying to figure out the problem. If that baby had broken ribs then she would be fussy! That poor baby! That rat bastard! UUUGGGHHHH!! Good question where is mom? Did she never notice him being distressed or annoyed when the baby cried? It never dawned on her that he may not be capable of handling the situation? Dear lord Thank You for keeping baby Maddy in your arms and safe from further harm!
11
claddaghgirl
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:33 am -Why is he not given the death penalty?
We had a case over here where an 18 year-old murdered his 11 year-old friend. He smothered him on a Friday night and joined the search party on the Saturday morning. He was caught and admitted to killing him. He got 7 years for manslaughter and served 3-1/2. He got out last month.
Huge difference in what this wanker did to poor Madison, but my point is that in a lot of cases the punishment does not fit the crime. Yes to death penalty!
12
sarabei
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:45 am -Dear God, that poor little one…it pisses me off to no end that there are SO many people out there who WANT babies and can’t have them and then people like this piece of shit can!!
13
Einley
Aug 27, 2008 at 11:35 am -Wisconsin does not have the death penalty. As a state, I feel that the laws and sentencing are extremely lenient here.
I would also love to know where the mother is in all this.
14
Jack Shizz
Aug 27, 2008 at 11:43 am -sickening… :C
15
April
Aug 27, 2008 at 11:44 am -I would love to know the statistics of violent crimes between states that DO have the death penalty and those that don’t. I wonder if it makes a diff?!?! I am all for it in cases like the ones we read here. Ship them all to Texas!
16
zenmom
Aug 27, 2008 at 12:40 pm -Heck ya!! Here in Texas, we have an “express lane” to death row for evil like this!!
17
The Masked Web Avenger
Aug 27, 2008 at 12:40 pm -I can’t fathom abusing a child of and age but a 4 week old. It’s enough to make a grown man feel a little teary eyed. How the hell do you beat a 4 week old, Jesus.
18
April
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:55 pm -I’m orig from Texas (live in CA now) - That probably explains the “Hang ‘em High” mentality. I am all for a little Texas justice when it comes to child abuse!
19
katyk
Aug 27, 2008 at 2:12 pm -I hate the fucking smirk on this asshole’s face. I hope he lives a long, painful existence in prison as someone’s bitch before they put his ass down.
20
wastingmywordss
Aug 27, 2008 at 11:45 pm -THIS IS MADISONS AUNT AND I AM THE SISTER OF MADISONS MOTHER SHE WAS AT WORK WHEN THIS WAS GOING ON. SHE HAD NO IDEA IT WAS GOING ON. WHEN MICHELLE DID GO TO THE DOCTOR WITH THE BABY THE DOCTOR DIDNT SAY ANYTHING.WAS WRONG
21
April
Aug 28, 2008 at 12:06 am -I think we are more angry at the bastard that murdered your precious niece than your sister. The question was where was she when he was beating that baby?? Just a question…. No harm meant from it… It was stated in the post that he was alone at the time that he beat the poor little angel to near death.
I am sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine going through what you and your family must be feeling right now. I hope that your sister has an ounce of your strength and can get AWAY from the fucker that murdered her baby. *hugs*
22
auddie
Aug 28, 2008 at 4:49 am -I pledge to send cartons of cigs to Bubba & Gang when they swing Assclown by his ankles and let that head hit some cinderblock.
Welcome to Poor Madisons Aunt. How did Sis end up as Mrs. Assclown? Any other kids that lived? Please don’t tell me he didn’t abuse sons. I also pledge to send a cash donation for your Sis to change her freakin’ surname and DO. NOT. allow them to put the name “Below” (Assclown) on your nieces headstone.
Please.
23
wastingmywordss
Aug 28, 2008 at 10:54 am -I’m not sure as to where she met him. I do know this came as a huge shock to my whole family we all thought he was a very different person, he seemed like a very good father, but we were wrong. Madison will not have the last name of “Below” written. My sister plans on never seeing him again seeing as how he will probably be in prison for the rest of his life. Please keep my sister out of this it has nothing to with her, she did nothing wrong here she was the victim and so was poor little madison. It was his fault this all happened and my family hates his living guts.
24
wastingmywordss
Aug 28, 2008 at 10:59 am -also, madison was their first and only child together. my first and only baby niece.
25
OnyxRayne
Aug 28, 2008 at 12:19 pm -How the fuck can you abuse a 4 WEEK OLD?!? That just baffles me. When my daughter was that age, I was afraid of ANYONE other then me holding her(yes that includes my husband).
wastingmywordss, I am so sorry for your loss. I can only imagine what your sis is going through. It’s every (good) parent’s fear to lose their child. I read the stories here and am beyond saddened for these children.
I know! I don’t get it. People who want a child and would take perfectly good care of a child and would love them endlessely can’t have children, but then total asswipes like this asshole can.
26
April
Aug 28, 2008 at 12:53 pm -Again - I am sorry fo you and your family. We are not against your sister at all. We feel for her as some of us here are mothers also.
27
Shroomer
Aug 28, 2008 at 6:41 pm -Poor baby. For 9 months she was safe in her mothers womb. Warm, comfy and I am sure well taken care of.
I am assuming she had to go straight back to work to support this jackass and whatever his habit may have been and her precious daughter.
RIP baby Madison-
I am sorry for your loss wastingmywordss
28
Castille
Aug 28, 2008 at 7:53 pm -The timing makes sense, actually. At 4 weeks her maternity leave was probably up and back to work she goes. A nightmarish sort of argument for having a real paid maternity leave in this country.
29
majaka
Aug 28, 2008 at 8:44 pm -I agree, I was always calling my doctor when ever I notice something bothering my baby. My son used to cry for hours end I knew something was wrong I was on the phone calling the doctor, we found out he suffered from colic. Now I can’t imagine this little angel having those injuries how bad she must have cried.
he should get the death penalty no doubt.
30
anneonimiss
Aug 28, 2008 at 11:19 pm -Well, here is yet another example in support of the idea that people should have to apply for a license to breed…beating an infant?!
31
Hippiepoet
Aug 29, 2008 at 7:38 pm -Just a question. This is a newborn infant. If the asshat was beating this baby for several weeks, wouldn’t the mommy notice when bathing and changing clothes, diapers, general care, that this baby had bruises? Broken ribs are going to cause bruising. Hitting the baby, again…. gonna cause some bruising. I just cannot see as a mother how you wouldn’t know your baby had previous rib fractures or head injuries….unless the baby was mainly in the father’s care????
Poor baby. All it knew was pain from her Daddy. Fucking prickassbitch.
32
Wonder
Aug 30, 2008 at 6:00 am -hmmm pathetic!
Hey douchebag - you seem proud to be a baby killer- Once every 3-4 hrs. - not even so much at night… were using powder baby formula = 2 scoops to 4 oz water and shake - BABIES 8wks need only 3-4 oz - This means no water no juice no cooking How damn hard can it be Fuckhead. Easy Peezy to BURP and change a diaper geeesh! Obviously takes a special person to cuddle a baby to sleep ?
other then - a bottle warmer cost about $7 and baby washclothes and bids are nice if handy therefore no damn mess to clean up - you need nothing !
Somebodies in denial… sorry Madison’s Aunt I have to agree with Hippie on this one. My first and only granddaughter lives with me. she is 12 wks today. She is perfect, so easy to take care of… It is a matter of setting Priorities. Your sister isn’t working 24/7 !
(I thought that it was 6 wks before you could return to work with a doctor release note… 8 with C-section.)
*** Just Sharing ***
We watch pbs tv and play together ont he computer http://pbskids.org/ gobbs of pages there. Never too young to start learning. Raising baby is so much fun… We also love the http://www.signingtime.com
33
Castille
Aug 30, 2008 at 7:02 pm -We’ve no national maternity leave policy in this country, which makes us stand out as an industrialized nation. You can take 12wks upaid family leave under FMLA if you work for a large company. Something like 5 states have a program where employers pay disability benefits if a Dr. defines your pregnancy as a disability. In the Army, with a Dr.’s note you can get 8wks paid leave after a csection rather than the standard 6. CA offers 50% pay family leave for 6wks. Other than that, I not sure what you’re talking about. Dr.s don’t have anything to do with when you return to work. Anyhow, I meant 4 sounded about right, because the typical paid maternity benefit companies offer (when they offer it - many don’t,) is 6 weeks and many women find themselves needing to take a week or 2 of it at the end of pregnancy before the baby is born. And all this really had jack-all to do with murdering babies, but if you relieve some of the stress from immediately returning to work or the financial hardship of missing work, it sure can’t hurt I figure.
34
Moroanca
Aug 30, 2008 at 8:26 pm -And why not the Death Penalty????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
35
Wonder
Aug 30, 2008 at 10:01 pm -doctors release is needed to return to work has nothing to do with paid or unpaid leave. If you expect your job to be there after child birth you submit a doctors note. The company can not allow you to return work until they have a release saying you can….
I think what it has to do with this case… The sister claims the mother was at work when her child was being flinged against the tables and she didn’t notice any injuries when she was home… NOT at work.
36
Zibarro
Sep 23, 2008 at 1:29 pm -Not buying mom not knowing - when it was apparent the abuse had gone on for at least 2 weeks! There had to be SOME evidence - SOME suspicion. Bullshit meter flying off the charts here.
As for doctors… the baby would have gone for a 1 month ckup. Seems to me 4 weeks = 1 month. Looks like the dirtbag began his abuse just after that first ckup. She was dead/dying by the time the next one rolled around.
This disgusts me. Babies that age SLEEP more than anything else! WTF kind of “inconvenience” could she had been to this sub-human scum?
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