INFANT GIRL CONLEY - 3 months - (2014) / Charged: Father, Kenneth Thomas Conley - Pottstown, PA

Pottstown dad charged after baby suffers stroke, paralysis due to violent shaking

The Mercury
Posted: 03/25/14, 5:57 PM EDT | Updated: 5 days ago



POTTSTOWN — A borough man is facing attempted involuntary manslaughter charges after allegedly shaking his 3-month-old daughter so hard she needed to be placed on a ventilator at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

After extensive testing, doctors at CHOP determined the infant suffered a stroke, a brain bleed, paralysis on the right side of body, convulsions and bruises on her left side, the center of her chest and on her chin, according to court papers.

Kenneth Thomas Conley, 20, was at home alone with the infant on March 13 around 6:50 p.m. when the incident occurred, police said in the affidavit of probable cause.

According to police, Conley was holding his daughter while she stood on his legs when he reached for a drink on the table causing her to wobble. The two allegedly bumped into each other; the baby’s chin hit Conley’s chin, police said.

Conley allegedly became “enraged,” then “violently shook the baby three to five times,” police said in the affidavit.

The infant cried and then when limp not long before the mother came home and called emergency services to the house in the 200 block of King Street.

The infant was transported to the Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, where she was treated for a concussion, police said. In subsequent interviews with police, Conley admitted to being too afraid to tell emergency personnel at Pottstown and at CHOP that he shook the infant.

When the infant started throwing up and suffering convulsions later on March 13, she was taken to CHOP, police said.

During a March 20 interview at the Pottstown Police Department, Conley, “kept reinforcing that the only thing that happened was that their chins collided,” police said.

Despite being told about the seriousness of his daughters condition, his story did not change, police said.

However, less than hour later, Conley was back at the police department and allegedly told officers that he did shake his daughter.

Police said Conley was visibly upset.

During the interview, Conley allegedly told police, “she started to cry, then (I) started to cry. (I) held her a few minutes then her body went limp,”

Conley was charged with aggravated assault, criminal attempt at involuntary manslaughter, simple assault and other related offenses.

He was arraigned by District Judge Kenneth E. Deatelhauser and his bail was set at $200,000. Conley is expected in the courtroom of District Judge Edward C. Kropp Sr. on April 2 at 11 a.m.

A call to the hospital about the condition of the infant as not been returned but, as of 5:15 p.m., the investigating officer told The Mercury that the infant is still alive.

http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140325/pottstown-dad-charged-after-baby-suffers-stroke-paralysis-due-to-violent-shaking

Pottstown man violently shakes infant daughter, lies to investigators about it

Author: Ryan Hughes , Reporter, RHughes@wfmz.com
Published: Mar 26 2014 05:29:45 PM EDT Updated On: Mar 26 2014 05:54:51 PM EDT 

Man accused of violently shaking 3-month-old daughter POTTSTOWN, Pa. - A Pottstown man is accused of an unspeakable crime, and now his infant daughter is fighting for her life.

Kenneth Conley has been charged with attempted involuntary manslaughter and other charges for violently shaking his 3-month-old daughter, said police.

According to court documents, Conley was alone on March 13, babysitting his daughter inside his apartment in the 200 block of King Street. The girl was standing on Conley's knees when she lunged forward and her chin struck his face.

Conley became so enraged, he violently shook her three to five times, causing her to cry, and soon her body went limp. 

"I think that's completely messed up," said Amanda Moore, who lives in the same apartment building.

"I don't think that gives anybody the right if they get frustrated with their kid to shake it," said Steven Elder, who also lives in the same building. The little girl was placed on a ventilator, and she is fighting for her life at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She suffered a stroke, brain bleed, paralysis on the right side of her body, large bruises and convulsions, said police.

Conley originally lied to doctors and police and denied doing anything to his daughter, according to court documents. Then, an hour later, he had a change of heart and reportedly admitted to everything.

"It's just very sad. Parents are supposed to be there to love and support their children, and children are supposed to be safe in their home," said Yolanda Durante, who works in Pottstown.

The little girl's condition was unavailable, but she is fighting to survive. Police said she has been taken off the ventilator and is now breathing on her own.

Conley was unable to post $200,000 cash bail, and he is locked up in the Montgomery County Prison, said police. His preliminary hearing is set for April 17.

http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-southeasternpa/police-pottstown-man-violently-shakes-infant-daughter-lies-to-investigators-about-it/25181232

Accused Pottstown baby-shaker to face trial on assault charge

By Caroline Sweeney, The Mercury

Posted: 04/17/14, 2:14 PM EDT | Updated: 2 weeks, 4 days ago

LOWER POTTSGROVE — A Pottstown man accused of shaking his baby so hard it caused her to suffer from seizures was in court again on Thursday afternoon.

Kenneth Conley, 20, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and two felony charges — criminal attempt at involuntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter — were withdrawn.

He will still face trial for felony aggravated assault and three misdemeanors: simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child by a parent or guardian and reckless endangerment.

A large number of Conley’s family waited patiently at District Judge Edward C. Kropp Sr.’s courtroom. After the 10 minute hearing, each person hugged Conley, who began to cry as he was escorted from the building.

The charges stem for a March 13 incident in which Conley allegedly shook his 3-month-old baby girl so hard she was placed on a ventilator, suffered a stroke and a brain bleed, according to police.

On that day, around 7 p.m., police said Conley was alone with the child at his house in the 200 block of King Street.

He was holding the baby on his lap when the two bumped chins, police said.

“This enraged (Conley) and he violently shook the baby three to five times,” investigators said in the affidavit of probable cause.

The child was taken by her mother to the Pottstown Memorial Medical Center and was diagnosed with a concussion, police said. But after convulsing and throwing up repeatedly, the baby was taken to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

During discussions with doctors at both hospitals, police said Conley, “kept reinforcing that the only thing that happened was that their chins collided. Even after being confronted with the medical issues, he denied doing anything to his daughter...”

On March 20, a week after the alleged incident, Conley allegedly admitted to shaking his daughter, police said.

Conley is expected at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown on June 4 at 9:30 a.m. for his formal arraignment.

His original bail was $200,000 but that was reduced at the hearing on Thursday to $99,000. He is confined to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail.

The baby, according to investigators, is still alive.

Link to article and video clip:
http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140417/accused-pottstown-baby-shaker-to-face-trial-on-assault-charge