Baby with brain injury dies; father faces charges

The father said he was frustrated by the infant's crying, police said.
STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
SHARON, Pa. -- A 3-month-old baby has died after suffering a serious brain injury when he was shaken earlier this month by his father, who will be charged with criminal homicide, police said.
Dillon Mortimer died late Friday at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he had been in the intensive care unit since the June 3 episode, Sharon police Capt. Michael Menster said Saturday.
The Allegheny County Coroner's Office, which performed an autopsy, ruled the baby's death a homicide Saturday.
The child's 24-year-old father, Thomas M. Mortimer, of Sharon, will be charged with criminal homicide, Menster said.
Held in jail
Mortimer is being held on $100,000 bond at Mercer County Jail on aggravated assault charges.
If found guilty of criminal homicide, Mortimer could face the death penalty or life in prison, according to Mercer County District Attorney James P. Epstein.
Mortimer initially told police he had tripped and fallen while carrying Dillon, but later said he had shaken the baby once or twice because he was frustrated by the baby's crying.
Menster said Mortimer, who was also looking after his 18-month-old daughter at the time, shook Dillon until the child stopped crying, then panicked and called 911.
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