Muhire Augustin, 30, of Columbia, faces two felony counts of abuse or neglect of a child after his 3-month-old baby was hospitalized Wednesday morning with life-threatening injuries, including skull fractures and brain hemorrhages. Augustin was arrested Wednesday and remains jailed after a judge denied him bond.
Medical Findings Cited in the Case
The probable-cause statement, as described by ABC17 News, says detectives interviewed Augustin and the doctor treating the infant after police were dispatched to the hospital around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday. The doctor reported multiple significant skull fractures and brain hemorrhages, rib fractures at different stages of healing, a fractured bone in the left shoulder, and a healing fracture of the right radius below the elbow. The doctor described the skull injuries as “pretty horrific” and said the baby had an “extremely low chance of survival,” the station reported. The infant required surgery and intubation, according to the statement.
As KOMU 8 reports, Augustin faces two counts of abuse or neglect of a child. The exact charge language varies between outlets: ABC17 News describes the counts as abuse or neglect of a child involving serious emotional or physical injury and first-degree child endangerment involving physical injury, while KRCG lists the charges as child abuse involving serious physical injury and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child involving serious physical injury.
What the Endangerment Statute Says
Missouri’s first-degree child-endangerment statute includes knowingly acting in a way that creates a substantial risk to a child’s life, body or health, according to the Missouri Revisor of Statutes. The statutory definition explains the legal category; it does not establish whether the allegations against Augustin are proven.
Augustin’s Account to Investigators
According to the probable-cause statement described by ABC17 News, Augustin told investigators the baby began crying around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday. He said he slipped on bath water while carrying the infant toward the living room to prepare another bottle, fell backward, and the baby fell from his arms and struck their head on the wooden floor. Augustin said the infant then did not cry, kept their eyes closed, and was not moving or breathing normally.
The statement says Augustin reported attempting rescue breaths and chest compressions but not calling 911. Instead, he called the baby’s mother, who was at work, and asked her to return home and take the infant to the hospital. He also said he used a mop to clean up water after the mother and baby left.
Investigators’ Findings at the Scene
Investigators said the scene evidence did not support Augustin’s account, according to the probable-cause statement described by ABC17 News. A detective reportedly found the mop dry and brittle, with dust on the floor and no obvious signs of recent mopping; a search warrant also indicated no sign that a mop had been used to clean water at the identified location. A crime-scene investigator found red spots on Augustin’s shirt that presumptively tested positive for human blood, the report said.
Court Schedule and Neighbor’s Reaction
Augustin’s initial hearing was set for 1 p.m. Thursday, when a judge denied him bond. He has a bond hearing scheduled for Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. and a preliminary hearing set for Dec. 10 at 9 a.m., according to KOMU 8.
KOMU 8 reported that neighbor Robert Neubauer said he was shocked by the charges and had not seen unusual activity at the home. He described the Augustins as polite and private, said he hoped the child’s injuries were an accident, and said he was praying for the family.
The Columbia Police Department said the investigation remains ongoing, and investigators have asked anyone with information to contact the department.
