Father accused of beating son confessed daughter's death, police say

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) -- A man accused of beating his 11-week-old son told authorities that he killed a 5-week-old daughter in Ohio in 1998, police said.
Joshua Pfeifer, 28, of Bono, is accused of beating the infant boy Saturday. The baby was treated at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock for "a massive skull fracture and broken ribs," as well as "bruising to the chest and testicles," police said.
During the investigation, police said they learned Pfeifer and his wife had an infant daughter who died while they lived near Ironton, Ohio. Police said the girl's death had been ruled as a case of sudden infant death syndrome. Ohio authorities are now reviewing the case, said Jonesboro Detective Dewayne Pierce.
Daughter's death
"Joshua was questioned concerning this death, at which point he stated that the infant girl had been crying and would not stop," Pierce wrote in an affidavit. "While holding the infant girl in his arms, Joshua placed his hand over the mouth and nose of the infant girl until she stopped breathing. After the infant girl became quiet, Joshua laid the infant in bed between him and his wife."
Pfeifer was quoted as saying he then woke up his wife and told her something was wrong with their daughter.
"Joshua also stated that he has an anger problem, which he said was caused by stress from being with the children for an extended period of time," the affidavit stated.
Pfeifer and his wife have two other children living in their home, police said. A judge ordered Pfeifer to have no contact with his children or any other child under the age of 18 without adult supervision.
Pfeifer is being held in lieu of a $750,000 bond after being charged with three counts of first-degree battery and filing a false report of a crime. He is to appear in court Sept. 24.