A father who bit his newborn daughter to punish her for being “ungrateful” has been sentenced after medical staff found “mouth-shaped bruises” on the infant.
Gavan Rogers, 26, has been sentenced to jail time after pleading guilty to domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to his newborn daughter, per PEOPLE.
In a court session held on March 28, Rogers agreed to a plea deal that earned him a three-year sentence, with one year to be served behind bars and the remaining two years under supervised probation.
Reports indicate that in November 2022, Rogers and a female companion brought their two-week-old infant to an Indianapolis hospital, where medical staff discovered “mouth-shaped” bruises and teeth marks on various parts of the baby’s body, as per a police probable cause affidavit obtained by the Washington Times Herald.
Initially, Rogers alleged that he might have kissed the baby too forcefully. However, Detective Joseph Turney of the Whitestown Police expressed in the affidavit that the extent of the injuries suggested excessive force had been used, resulting in severe pain for the infant.
Alarming behavior was noted by nursing staff at the hospital who overheard Rogers referring to the baby as “ungrateful,” “evil,” and a “little b****.”
Concerns escalated as Rogers displayed frustration whenever the infant cried, as stated in the affidavit.
Days later, the same nurse reportedly witnessed another concerning interaction between Rogers and his baby, highlighting a stark contrast in the child’s demeanor when in Rogers’ care versus the mother’s.
“On another occasion in the room, (Rogers) had the baby completely undressed and lying in his lap. The baby appeared physically cold and was crying while he observed and recorded videos of her crying,” the affidavit details. “I am not comfortable entrusting this baby’s care to (Rogers).”
Witham nursing staff also observed Rogers becoming notably frustrated when his daughter cried, and they took extra precautions to educate him about the dangers of shaking the baby.
During an interview with a Whitestown police detective, Rogers disclosed that he had been residing with the baby and her mother in Whitestown for the past two weeks but typically resided with his parents in Greencastle, approximately 50 miles southwest of Whitestown.
In a subsequent police interview, Rogers admitted to intending to give the baby “love bites” but acknowledged he “nibbled too hard,” even while the infant was clothed, reports WXIN.
Following his arrest on March 14, 2023, Rogers has served three months in Boone County Jail and an additional nine months in Boone County Community Corrections, as per court documents.
