Christopher Downing arrested for death of 1 year old.

[Unamused Cat]

A 20-year-old man has been jailed in connection with the death of a baby boy, police said Monday.

Christopher Downing, of Fort Lauderdale, is an acquaintance of the dead 15-month-old's mother, police spokesman Sgt. Frank Sousa said.

Authorities were called to the 1700 block of Northwest 18th Street about 2 p.m. Friday, to help the unresponsive child, Sousa said. Paramedics performed CPR and took the boy to Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, where he was incubated, then died Sunday.

http://www.nbc6.net/news/15695449/detail.html

[Mom of 4]

Wow....from the article...

"She knew this man doesn't have kids," said the suspects uncle, William Graham. "He knows how to feed kids because we've got a lot in our family, but when it comes to a sickly child, he doesn't know anything about that."

As the investigation continued, police said more charges could be filed against Downing. However, his family members said it's the baby's mother who should be in jail.

"I can't say she was a bad person, because I don't really know her," Graham said. "The fact of the matter is, I don't know what happened or how it happened, but whatever went on, he never watched the kid."

The baby's mother wasn't home when NBC 6 knocked on her door. But the baby's godmother, who lives next door, said the mother isn't to blame.

"She was a very good mother," Mary-Joe Edwards said. "She always believed in her kids having food to eat, a place to sleep and clothes to wear. She always took care of kids."

His family can't seem to make up their mind about some things. Apparently the baby was sick and this guy had no problem feeding a baby but because it was sick I guess he can't be expected not to abuse him. So it's the moms fault for leaving the baby with him. In the next breath they claim to have no idea what happened, followed by "he never watched him". WTF?

I am so relieved that the mother believes in food, shelter and clothes though. I just hate it when they don't believe in those things.:p

[nurseronda]

I knew this was one I had seen last night, where the relatives say that he is innocent because he didn't do it, wasn't responsible enough or just plain stupid in the department of babysitting to care for a sick baby...These people make me sick!!!

[Lizard]

And now charged:

Police on Wednesday charged a Fort Lauderdale man with the death of 15-month-old Jayon Hartagea.

Christopher Downing, 20, was originally charged with one count of aggravated child abuse, but the charges were upgraded when results from the Broward medical examiner's office were completed.

''He shook the infant hard enough to cause bleeding and swelling in his brain,'' according to the arrest report.

http://www.miamiherald.com/466/story/470985.html