MICHAEL ANTHONY MOTLEY Jr - 10 Weeks -(2010) Danville NC

A Danville man is charged with the murder of his 10-week-old son, according to the Danville Police Department.
Police said on March 20, authorities responded to a home on Wendell Scott Drive after a report of an unresponsive infant. Officials found the 10-week-old infant, Michael Anthony Motley Jr., was not breathing.
The infant was taken to Danville Regional Medical Center. He was then transferred to Duke University Medical Center where he died on March 23. Police did not detail the infant's injuries
Following a Medical Examiner's report on September 17, officials ruled the infant's death a homicide. On Tuesday, a grand jury met and indicted the infant's father, Michael Motley, Sr., on child abuse and murder charges.
Motley was arrested Tuesday and is being held in the Danville City Jail without bond.

another father left alone with an infant -

oviedo45 wrote:another father left alone with an infant -

It's becoming too common Ovie. Don't know where the mother was in this case but all too often they are working while the 'man' of the house isn't.

http://www.wset.com/story/15507671/michael-motley-trial-postponed

Danville, VA -- The trial of the Danville man charged with murdering his 10-week-old son has been postponed.

Last year a grand jury charged Michael Motley with abusing and killing his baby boy. The trial was set for Tuesday, but the main attorney had severe medical issues.

Motley's bond has been revoked and he will remain in jail until his next trial date in February.

The man accused of killing his infant son two years ago was sentenced to 14 years in prison Tuesday.
Michael Anthony Motley Sr. had been charged with
child abuse, neglect and murder in the death of 10-week-old Michael
Anthony Motley Jr.

Motley entered an Alford plea in Danville Circuit
Court Tuesday, which is a type of guilty plea where the
defendant chooses against going to a jury trial to avoid being found
guilty based on the evidence against him.

It’s a way for a defendant to plead guilty to a
charge but avoid the harsher sentence that may be handed down by a
jury, said defense attorney Glenn Berger, who, with Greg Haymore,
represented Motley.

On March 20, 2010, emergency crews responded to the
300 block of Wendell Scott Drive for a report of an unresponsive
infant. When they arrived, they found 10-week-old Michael Anthony
Motley Jr. not breathing and tried to resuscitate him. He was
transported to Danville Regional Medical Center and later airlifted to
Duke University Medical Center, where he was declared dead on March 22.

According to Danville Commonwealth's Attorney
Michael Newman, Motley called 911 at 1:46 p.m. saying that he thought
his son was dead. Rescue personnel arrived to find the infant in
cardiac arrest.

The child regained a pulse at the hospital but
couldn’t breathe on his own, Newman said. The 10-week-old was airlifted
to Duke University Medical Center and later pronounced dead.

A CT scan showed the child had rib fractures and subdural hematoma — or bleeding on the brain.

Motley told the court he tripped, fell and hit the
child on an armchair and fell on him. The Medical Examiner in Roanoke
declared the child had died from a traumatic brain injury, Newman said.

Newman said there were no skull fractures or
external injuries to the child. The child’s mother had gone to work
when the incident occurred and there were no witnesses.

Newman said the 14-year sentence was fair and that
it was better than taking chances on whether a jury would find Motley
guilty.

But Berger disagreed with the judge’s decision.

“I think it was a harsh sentence,” Berger said during an interview Wednesday.

The case was complicated, Berger said. The child
had broken ribs, but the state’s records indicated they were broken on
three different occasions and some breaks may have occurred at birth,
he said.

The state failed to do a bone scan determine bone
strength and the child — who had a pre-existing subdural hematoma — may
have suffered from vitamin D deficiency and rickets, Berger said.
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2012/feb/22/3/man-gets-14-years-fatal-child-abuse-case-ar-1707982/