LYNN, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A Lynn man was arraigned on child abuse charges Wednesday after a 3-month-old in his care died following an incident at his Washington Street apartment.
Anthony Gideika, 32, was arraigned on a single charge of assault and battery on a child causing serious bodily injury; however, additional charges are possible following an autopsy.
A judge set Gideika's bail at $100,000.
The child was taken to North Shore Children's Hospital and then subsequently transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital where he died Wednesday morning.
Police responded to the Washington Street apartment Gideika shares with his girlfriend Jennifer Nelson at about 2 a.m. Monday. Gideika had allegedly called police to report that baby Chase was having difficulty breathing.
During Gideika's arraignment, the prosecutor said, "Chase had been violently shaken and impacted on something more than once."
Prosecutors say doctors discovered skull and leg fractures, retinal bleeding, retinal hemorrhages, as well as bruising and swelling to his scrotum and testicles.
However, most concerning was the condition of his brain. The prosecutor said it was "so swollen that the brain had lost its natural architecture."
Gideika, an Iraq War veteran with PTSD, claims it all was an accident.
According to court documents, Gideika told police he has started abusing Klonopins after he found out the twin boys weren't his biological sons. He also told police he had actually dropped Chase four times.
His defense attorney claims Gideika is 100 percent disabled.
Gideika was allegedly arrested while trying to check into the Bedford VA.
Authorities say the couple has at least two open cases with the Dept. of Children and Families. Chase and his twin brother, Anthony, allegedly tested positive for methadone and benzodiazepine at birth in April, but the couple was allowed to take the premature boys home.
Nelson's 3-year-old son was also allegedly removed from the home a year ago after reports of neglect and heroin abuse surfaced.
Both Nelson's son and Chase's twin are in state custody at this time.