Dad indicted on felonious assault in injuries to 8-week-old son

Man indicted on felonious assault charges over injuries to 8-week-old son

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County grand jury today indicted Robert A. Purfey, 32, of Indianola Avenue, on two counts each of felonious assault and child endangering and one count of tampering with evidence, all pertaining to serious injuries to his 8-week-old son, who was taken Friday to Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, where he was in critical condition and on life support.

After Purfey called 911, Struthers firefighters responded to a Park Avenue residence, finding the infant in respiratory distress with a baby wipe obstructing his airway, Struthers police said.

Emergency personnel collected as evidence scissors and a bath towel, both bloodstained, and the evidence tampering charge alleges Purfey concealed those items to impede the investigation.

Police said Purfey’s initial statement at the hospital about what happened to the baby was “not physically possible.”