In Del City, a 24-year-old man is facing a felony child abuse charge after his two-month-old was rushed to a hospital in December with what doctors described as catastrophic injuries, including 23 broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a brain bleed. The infant, now six months old, was found unresponsive on Dec. 3 inside an apartment in Del City's 3300 block of Bryant and taken to a children's hospital. Authorities booked the child's father, Darrell Crutchfield, and prosecutors have scheduled a court appearance next month.
What investigators say
Del City officers told investigators they were called after the child's condition declined that morning and medics transported the infant to a children's hospital. Officers say they found the baby not conscious but breathing inside an apartment in the 3300 block of Bryant. Medical staff documented multiple broken ribs, significant bruising, a collapsed lung and bleeding on the brain, according to KFOR.
Parents' accounts and interviews
In interviews, the baby's mother told police she "believed Crutchfield was taking his anger out on the baby while choking" before emergency responders arrived. Crutchfield told investigators he had confronted the mother about alleged cheating and said he had fed the infant apple juice mixed with MiraLAX before the child began choking. He also told officers he "felt responsible" for the injuries, as reported by KFOR.
Charges and the law
Crutchfield faces a felony child abuse charge, and police say the mother is not facing criminal charges. Both parents were interviewed during the probe. Prosecutors have set a preliminary hearing for May. Under Oklahoma law (21 O.S. § 843.5), a conviction for willful or malicious child abuse can carry penalties up to life in prison, per the Oklahoma Statutes.
How this fits a troubling local pattern
The arrest is the latest in a string of severe child abuse investigations around the Oklahoma City metro, a trend that has alarmed local child welfare advocates and law enforcement officials. In November, KOCO reported a 21-month-old hospitalized with head trauma investigators called intentional. In February 2025, News On 6 covered a Norman case in which a two-month-old later died after blunt-force injuries.
What happens next
The Del City Police Department and prosecutors continue reviewing medical and investigative findings as the case moves through the court calendar. Crutchfield's next court date is scheduled for May, and investigators say they will present evidence at the preliminary hearing. The matter remains under active investigation as authorities and medical teams monitor the child's recovery.
