Police: Waynesburg man admits to shaking baby
Jeffrey Michael Kennedy
Two-month-old Maxxen Dorsey is held by his mother, Samantha Dorsey, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va.
WAYNESBURG – State police said a Waynesburg man charged with assaulting his infant son Friday morning at a house in Jefferson Township admitted to shaking the baby twice.
According to the criminal complaint, Jeffrey Michael Kennedy, 19, of 268 W. Greene St., told police he shook his 2-month-old son, Maxxen Dorsey, until the child’s eyes rolled back into his head.
Kennedy said he then placed the child in a chair and went to wash dishes. When he returned and found the child unresponsive, he shook the child again, police said.
Kennedy spoke to police at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va., where the child was being treated for injuries suffered in the alleged assault.
“Maxx has a long road of recovery ahead of him,” the family of the baby’s mother, Samantha Dorsey, said in the statement issued Monday afternoon.
“Multiple visits to pediatric specialists in neurology and ophthalmology are, unfortunately, in his near future. It is possible that the multiple hemorrhages in his retinae may have caused a permanent visual disability,” the family said.
Doctors indicated it could take up to a year to assess all of the neurological damage.
“We are overwhelmed and so grateful for the outpouring of love and concern from our family, friends and ever perfect strangers,” the family said. “Thank you all for your continued prayers for our precious prince Maxx.”
Kennedy was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He was arraigned before District Judge Lou Dayich and placed in Greene County jail on $75,000 cash bond.
The assault occurred between 9 a.m. and noon Friday at a house on Route 88 North in Dry Tavern.
Police said they were notified by Ruby Memorial Hospital at about 4:30 p.m. that a two-month-old child was admitted to intensive care unit with subdural hematomas consistent with “shaken baby” syndrome.
A doctor at the hospital told police in addition to subdural hematomas, the child had detached retinas, also a sign of “shaken baby” syndrome, the complaint said.
The complaint fails to state what may have led Kennedy to shake the baby. Police declined further comment Monday.
Kennedy remains in Greene County jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Jan. 27 before Dayich.
Kennedy has not had any other major brushes with the law, but according to online court records he was charged with disorderly conduct for an incident April 21 at Greene County Career and Technology Center, where he was attending classes. He pleaded guilty before District Judge Glenn Bates in July and was ordered to perform 25 hours of community service.