A Springfield Township father has been charged with child abuse in connection with near-fatal injuries his son 2-month-old son suffered in December.
Daniel Gracer, 31, was arraigned Saturday on one count of first-degree child abuse, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. His bond was set at $1 million. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
Police were called Dec. 23 to a home in the 7000 block of Meadow Lane in Springfield Township for a report of an unresponsive baby, according to the sheriff’s office. Gracer was caring for the boy at the time.
The boy had serious head and brain trauma, according to the sheriff’s office, and a child abuse specialist at one of the hospitals he went to found the injuries were non-accidental. The specialist believes the injury was caused by rapid acceleration and rapid deceleration, consistent with being shaken.
He is likely to have severely delayed development, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Children are such a blessing and gift, and it is hard for me to ever understand how someone can intentionally injure a child,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a statement. “We look forward to this individual being held fully accountable.”