O'FALLON, Mo. — An O'Fallon, Missouri, man was charged with child abuse Monday after police said he lost his temper and struck his daughter.
Dominic Wacker, 27, was charged with abuse of a child resulting in serious physical injury hours after he allegedly shook and punched his 3-month-old daughter.
According to a probable cause statement from an O'Fallon police officer, Wacker called 911 at around 2:30 Monday morning saying he lost his temper and struck his child, and that the child was not breathing her eyes were barely open. He began CPR on the baby with the operator's directions.
First responders rushed to the scene and were able to regain a pulse and rushed the 3-month-old to a hospital for treatment. She was then airlifted to a hospital in St. Louis, where she was listed in critical condition.
Wacker told the investigating officer that he had woken up and changed the baby's diaper before making a bottle of formula for her. She became fussy as he tried to burp her. He told police he then lost his temper and hit her several times.
After realizing she wasn't breathing, he called the baby's mother, who told him to call 911.
Wacker admitted to shaking the baby as well but couldn't remember if he did it before or after hitting her, according to the probable cause statement.
He also admitted that on Feb. 9 he had lost his temper with his daughter and squeezed her hard enough to bruise.
Wacker said that the baby's mother was present when he squeezed the girl but she didn't see it happen, and he told her what he had done immediately afterward.
In a police interview, the mother admitted that Wacker had told her he squeezed their daughter. They brought her to the hospital that same day but didn't mention the abuse, instead saying that she wasn't eating.
The hospital confirmed that the baby was a patient there on Feb. 9.
Police said their investigation revealed the baby was suffering from colic, which is what led the father to lose his temper and punch and shake the baby.
Wacker's bond was set at $75,000.
"This is a tragic and preventable event," a press release from the O'Fallon, Missouri, Police Department said. "We want to take the time to remind parents and caregivers of a local group, the St. Louis Crisis Nursery, who is prepared and ready to step in when parents and caregivers need a break. For more information, check out www.crisisnurserykids.org."
How to report child abuse:
If you suspect child abuse, call the Missouri Hotline number at 1-800-392-3738.
The team is available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you are hearing or speech impaired, call Relay Missouri at 1-800-735-2466 (voice) or 1-800-735-2966 (text).
If you are mandated by law to report child abuse and neglect, you can make a report online here.
