DONALD RATHMAN - 7 Weeks - St. Joseph MO

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- A St. Joseph man has pleaded guilty in the death of his 7-week-old son.

Ronny Rathman entered the plea Monday in Buchanan County Circuit Court
to second-degree murder. He admitted he killed his son, Donald, on Oct.
8, 2009.

Donald's mother, Angela Rathman, was sentenced to five years in prison last month for also abusing the boy.

The St. Joseph News-Press reports that Rathman told the court that he
hit the boy twice to stop him from crying and the boy fell out of his
arms, hit a chair and fell onto a table.

County Prosecutor Dwight Scroggins said Donald had extensive bruising,
two black eyes, a fractured skull and hemorrhaging in his brain.

Rathman will be sentenced March 15.

A northwest Missouri man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his
infant son.
Ronny Rathman, 52, of St. Joseph testified he hit his baby
twice to stop him from crying.

Eight-week-old Donald Rathman suffered
fatal injuries while in Ron Rathman's care last October.

Last month, Rathman pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder.

He said Donald fell out of his arms, hit a chair and fell onto a table.

Prosecutors said the infant had extensive head injuries.

A Buchanan County Circuit Court judge sentenced Ron Rathman on Monday.

Rathman's wife, Angela Rathman, was sentenced in January to five
years in prison for abusing the baby.