Man charged with neglect, battery in 2-year-old's death

FRANKFORT, Ind. (AP) - Authorities say a central Indiana man violently shook his 2-month-old daughter, causing bleeding in the brain that led to the girl's death four days later.

Timothy Beck Jr., 28, of Kirklin has been charged with neglect of a dependent and battery resulting in death. He pleaded not guilty during an initial hearing Wednesday.

The girl's mother told investigators that she left the baby alone with Beck on May 6 while she had outpatient surgery, a probable cause affidavit said. When she returned home, she noticed the infant had a swollen eye, was whimpering and shaking and vomited shortly after being fed a bottle.

The child was removed from life support Tuesday at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis after doctors determined she could not survive her injuries, the affidavit said. The baby sustained a subdural hemorrhage, a traumatic head injury and cervical spine injuries, court documents said.

Beck at first blamed the injuries on the baby's 17-month-old sister, investigators said. But experts at Riley determined a child would not have the strength to inflict such injuries, which were characteristic of abusive head trauma and consistent with a violent shaking episode.

Once investigators spoke to Beck about the nature of the injuries, he started to cry. He said he did not think he hurt her, but eventually admitted to getting what he called "a little rough" with the infant.

Beck was being held in the Clinton County Jail on $50,000 bond. It wasn't clear whether he has an attorney who might comment on the case.