Man charged with child abuse, calls infant's injuries 'accidents'

Man charged with child abuse, calls infant's injuries 'accidents'


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SALT LAKE CITY — A South Salt Lake man faces several charges of child abuse involving his 5-month-old.

Efrain Camacho, 25, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with four counts of second-degree felony child abuse.

The child's injuries — as reported by Kristine Campbell, a child abuse pediatrician at Primary Children's Hospital — included a broken arm, three broken ribs, a broken leg and a head injury with fluid on the infant's brain.

Each injury appeared to have occurred on different occasions between January and February, according to Campbell's statement.

Because the baby was not yet mobile and doctors had not been provided with a viable alternative, Campbell concluded the child had likely been abused, according to court documents.

Camacho reportedly told differing stories to health care workers and police officers regarding the injuries.

The man told police that the child had spina bifida as an explanation behind the fluid on the infant's brain, but the child's medical records do not document the condition, charges state.

Camacho categorized several injuries as part of accidents, such as quickly picking the child up by the arm, rough play with other children, and bouncing the infant too roughly in a baby chair, according to court documents.

However, when police consulted with Campbell about Camacho's explanations, the pediatrician determined the "accidental" injuries described in the man's statement would not adequately explain the infant's injuries, charges state.

Camacho claimed that he had been under stress and that the other people who primarily take care of the baby did not cause the injuries, according to the charges.


Cassidy Hansen is currently studying both Political Science and Communications at Brigham Young University, while working as an intern at the Deseret News. Contact her at chansen@deseretnews.com

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