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Editor's note: This article contains graphic content that some readers may find disturbing.SPRINGVILLE — Police arrested a Springville man after they say he attempted to kill his 4-month-old daughter during an argument with his wife.
Police found Philip Hatfield, 27, wandering naked in the roadway near his house at about 2:20 a.m., Sunday, according to Springville Police Lt. Warren Foster. Hatfield appeared to be under the influence of some controlled substance and was shouting he had killed his infant daughter and needed to be arrested, according to Utah County jail records.
Police noticed Hatfield's wife who appeared to be holding a lifeless infant with injuries to her head, eyes, face, arms and legs, jail records state. She said Hatfield began pushing her until she dropped the infant, then he picked up the baby and threw the infant down against a hard surface.
Hatfield's two other young children were there while this occurred and were visibly scared, Foster said.
As Hatfield was being transported to the Utah County Jail, he began asking police whether or not the infant was dead because he had been trying to kill her, according to jail records. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Hatfield agreed to answer questions. He said he had been smoking marijuana earlier and was on prescription medication.
Hatfield said he had been arguing with his wife and wanted to show her he could kill the infant, police said. He told police he had retrieved the infant from her bed downstairs, threw her against the wall, threw her down onto a pool table and rubbed broken glass in her eyes, according to jail records.
Hatfield asked police multiple times about the infant's condition because he said what he did to her was "heinous" and she should be dead, jail records state.
When asked if he had been trying to kill the infant, Hatfield told police he knew it wasn't right to say, but that he was indeed trying to kill her, according to jail records.
The child was transported to a hospital and later a children's hospital to be treated for fractures to her skull, injuries to her back, a deformed leg and other scrapes and bruises to her body.
According to Foster, the child will likely survive and should be released from the hospital soon.
Hatfield was arrested on suspicion of attempted aggravated murder and child abuse by intentionally inflicting serious physical injury. He was also arrested on suspicion of lewdness, assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child.
- Partner insults, demean or embarrasses you with put-downs
- Partner controls what you do, who you talk to or where you go
- Partner looks at you or acts in ways that scare you
- Partner pushes you, slaps you, chokes you or hits you
- Partner stops you from seeing your friends or family members
- Partner controls the money in the relationship, takes your money or Social Security check, makes you ask for money or refuses to give you money
- Partner makes all decisions without your input or consideration of your needs
- Partner tells you that you’re a bad parent or threatens to take away your children
- Partner prevents you from working or attending school
- Partner acts like the abuse is no big deal, denies the abuse or tells you it’s your own fault
- Partner destroys your property or threatens to kill your pets
- Partner intimidates you with guns, knives or other weapons
- Partner attempts to force you to drop criminal charges
- Partner threatens to take their life or threatens to kill you
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition Hotline: 1-800-897-5465 (LINK)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
- YWCA 24-Hour Crisis Line: 801-537-8600
