Father charged with killing baby boy in Burke County

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — A man charged in the death of his 2-month-old child faced a judge in Burke County Monday.

Maurice Dashawn Springs, 23, is charged with second-degree murder.

(Springs)

Deputies were called to Carolina Health Care System-Blue Ridge on Sept. 4 after an unresponsive 2-month-old boy was taken to the hospital by his parents.

The baby was transferred to Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, but he died on Sept. 9.

The Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division and Burke County's Department of Social Services started an investigation after reports from emergency room staff and at Levine's.

According to a search warrant, deputies believe the child died of shaken baby syndrome.

"No visible signs of trauma to the head or anywhere on the child. That's the next logical place you go, shaken baby," Sheriff Steve Whisenant said.

Officials said CT scans showed multiple subdural hematomas consistent with a traumatic brain injury.

Springs' family said he loved the baby with all his heart, and they are standing by him.

The child's mother was in court but too distraught to talk afterward.

"As a parent and a grandparent, any time there is a young child involved all of us struggle with thinking about what a child went through," Whisenant said.

Channel 9 learned deputies interviewed Springs for hours. They are not revealing what he said during that interview prior to his arrest.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for more information. 

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Cox Media Group