UPDATE: Man indicted for injuring a two year old
By Staff
Nathan Strickland
A Franklin County grand jury indicted a Russellville man on attempted murder and aggravated child abuse charges during their March session.
Authorities said Richard Edward Agee Jr., 23, of 275 Willingham Hill Road in Tuscumbia is accused of severely injuring his girlfriend’s two-year-old son while baby-sitting.
Franklin County Courthouse officials said Agee was arrested in October after he was accused of shaking the two year old.
Authorities said doctors who treated the child said the boy’s injuries showed signs of injuries similar to “Shaken Baby Syndrome,” which is rarely seen in children 12 months and up.
Law enforcement officials said emergency personnel responded to a Washington Avenue residence on Sept. 27 to a report of an unresponsive baby.
Officials said Agee gave three separate accounts of what happened the night the incident occurred.
Reports indicated Agee claimed to be just baby-sitting the little boy and another child that he has with the mother while the mother was away at work and school. He also claims the two children were on the couch watching T.V. and when he got up to open the front door, he turned back and saw the child slumped over on the couch not breathing.
In another version, Authorities said Agee claimed the child was sitting on the couch eating animal crackers and when he got up to go into the bedroom he turned and saw the boy slumped over on the couch and claimed the child had choked on the crackers.
Agee then told officials he took off to a neighbor’s house for help. Once medical personnel arrived, the neighbor had already begun CPR on the child, authorities said.
The two year old was rushed to Russellville Hospital, where he was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital. The boy was later transferred to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham because of the severity of his injuries.
Officials said the child was put on a feeding tube and ventilator for several weeks.
Investigators said the boy is doing better and is staying with family members until the case is resolved.
Attempted murder is a class A felony and is punishable by 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said the case could be pushed and tried later this year.
Agee is currently being held in the Franklin County Jail on $250,000 bond.
