DAVIS COUNTY, UT (KUTV/CNN) – A 19-year-old man in Utah is in custody, accused of killing his 7-week-old son when the baby wouldn’t stop crying.
Clint Nokes, 19, called 911 when his baby son, Hudson, stopped breathing on Dec. 1.
Despite CPR, officers could not revive the unresponsive baby. Hudson was rushed to the hospital and died 12 hours later.
An officer interviewed Nokes, who said he was feeding the 7-week-old, but when he tried to burp him, he wouldn’t burp. Nokes says he pulled the baby away from him, and he went limp.
Once Hudson was transferred to the hospital, investigators found “non-accidental and fatal injuries.”
Police believe Nokes physically harmed his newborn son to the point where the 7-week-old just couldn’t hold on, Assistant Chief Kelly Bennett says.
An autopsy revealed the baby had a 10-centimeter skull fracture, both optic nerves in his eyes were hemorrhaged and his spinal fluid was bloody. The baby also had a broken rib, humorous and tibia.
After another interview with police, Nokes admitted he was tired of the baby crying when he finally “exploded.” He stated he would “chuck” Hudson on the couch or in his swing.
Nokes said he grabbed the baby by both arms and pulled him out of the swing. He also said he pulled his leg and carried him by the leg from the living room and into the kitchen. He said he grabbed the baby, held him in front of him and jumped up and down, which caused the baby’s head to go back and forth.
According to Nokes, he dropped the child on his head in the kitchen sink earlier in the week.
Nokes was placed in custody and transported to jail. It is unclear what charges he will face.
In light of the case, health care professionals want to remind parents it’s important to ask for help with their baby if they need it.
Young parents in particular are often burdened by the stress of a newborn, child psychologist Douglas Goldsmith says.
"Parents need to be honest and not frightened to say, ‘I'm really stressed. I can't do this. I need a break,’” Goldsmith said.
Copyright 2017 KUTV, Nokes Family, Davis County Jail via CNN. All rights reserved.
