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Father charged in baby's death
By CHRIS TISCH LARGO -- A 2-month-old baby who police say was shaken by his father died Friday afternoon. Michael Christians Jr. died at All Children's Hospital at 4 p.m. Friday, a hospital spokeswoman said. His father, Michael D. Christians, 29, was charged Wednesday with aggravated child abuse. That charge was upgraded to first-degree murder after his son's death. Police say Christians became frustrated Tuesday night when his son would not stop crying. He grabbed the boy and shook him, then thrust the baby into his chest, causing the infant's head to snap against his collarbone, police said. Christians swung the boy quickly from arm to arm, then tossed him on a bed, where the boy bounced, police said. The boy's crying slowed, but he turned cold and pale. Christians called his wife at work. When she came home, they took the boy to Largo Medical Center. He was transferred to All Children's Hospital in critical condition. An examination determined that the baby suffered from shaken-baby syndrome. He was placed on life support but showed very little, if any, brain activity. On Friday, two examinations -- one in the morning, another in the afternoon -- showed that the child was brain-dead. The family was given time to say goodbye and the child was removed from life support. "It was very emotional," said Largo police Detective Diane Martin, who investigated the case. Police said Christians and his family moved to Largo from Illinois only about a week ago. Authorities in that state are investigating how the child suffered a fractured right forearm several weeks ago. In fact, the baby had a tiny splint on his arm when the abuse occurred Tuesday night, police said. Detectives charged Christians with murder Friday evening. He was being held without bail. Martin said a jail chaplain was going to deliver the news to Christians of his son's death. -- Chris Tisch can be reached at 445-4156 or tisch@sptimes.com.
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