Sick excuse of new father who fractured 14 bones in his baby daughter’s body

A new father in Missouri is accused of breaking 14 bones in his two-month-old daughter’s body after claiming he tripped over the child.

Richard Leonard, 20, and his wife took their two-month-old daughter to a pediatrician on December 18 who “noticed some bruising” on the young child that Leonard “didn’t see/didn’t think were bruises.” according to a probable cause statement.

The doctor advised the new parents to take their child to a hospital and then called the Department of Family Services hotline to report signs of abuse.

Police officers then conducted a home check at the department’s request, but found the child apparently content in her mother’s arms. Reports on law and crime.

But the next day, police received a call from a doctor at Children’s Mercy Hospital stating that the child had been brought in late the night before with a total of 14 fractures to her arms, legs, ribs and fingers, which the doctor said were was serious. ‘signs of classic abuse’ according to the Kansas City Star.

She also had bruises on her shoulder, face and back.

At that point, police say, Leonard claimed he dropped the baby after tripping. He then changed his story to say that he fell on top of the child after tripping.

Still, the doctor said this would only explain some of the injuries, but not all, because the fractures were in various stages of healing – which he said were “signs of classic abuse.” WDBJ Reports.

When questioned, the child’s mother told officers that she and Leonard had been together since November 2023, got married in May and had the girl in October.

She said she didn’t think her husband was “capable” of hurting the child, wondering if she could have injured her daughter by rolling over her while she was co-sleeping, or if a jumping dog could have caused the injuries can cause.

But the mother also allegedly told police that Leonard had been abused as a child and had been placed in foster care.

Leonard then told officers that the “lack of sleep, constant crying during diaper changes and his own anger issues had become a problem that had led to abuse.”

He explained that when he was abused as a child, he would pull out his hair to cope with the stress – and that he had recently resorted to that behavior.

Leonard said stress increased after the couple moved to a new home and had a new baby, and “there was just too much happening at once.”

“The part that upset him the most is the fact that [the baby] would always scream when he tried to hold her,” the affidavit said.

Leonard was released from the Lee County Jail after posting $5,000 of his $50,000 bail

Leonard also allegedly told police that when the baby “was very young, he had trouble hitting himself in the jaw.

“This is how he dealt with the stress,” the statement said.

“When she woke up at night, he preferred to take the stress out on himself [the child]. He would really destroy himself.

“Then one day he decided to quit.”

‘He never hit [the girl]”I just grabbed her roughly,” the affidavit said, explaining how Leonard admitted to using “more force than necessary” during dressing, swaddling and diaper changes.

Leonard is now charged with child abuse, but was released from the Lee County Jail after posting $5,000 of his $50,000 bond.

He is not allowed to have any contact with the child’s mother and his daughter, who is now in the care of the Department of Family Services.