Jul 9, 2018 2 min read

Police are searching for a Washington man accused of abusing a 6-month-old baby, who suffered nine fractured ribs, fractures of both legs and a lacerated liver.

Randy L. Hughes, 38, of 121 Church St., was charged by Washington police with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children after he allegedly abused the child.

The child’s mother told police she noticed the child’s injuries June 23, when she returned home from work. Hughes, who had been caring for the child and four other children while the mother was at work, told the mother the infant fell from a bed while he was making lunch for the other children. When the mother suggested the child be medically evaluated, Hughes allegedly said the child was “ok” and he would monitor her over the next few days, according to the criminal complaint.

The mother told police she had “very little physical interaction” with the infant over the next few days and Hughes was caring for her, the complaint said. On June 26, the mother discovered “extensive bruising” on the child’s torso. When she decided to take the infant for medical treatment, Hughes allegedly said he was “going to jail,” the complaint said.

A doctor at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC told the mother the injuries were indicative of physical abuse and could not have been self-inflicted or from falling out of bed. The doctor told the mother the injuries “likely occurred three days prior to admission,” the complaint said.

The doctor also said the child had been in “substantial pain for multiple days and could have had a life-threatening hemorrhage from the liver laceration,” the complaint said. The child also had bruising on or near her eye and ear.

Hughes was last heard of by family June 27, the day the child left the hospital. Police said they have made several attempts to interview him about the child’s injuries, without success. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.