Dad charged with injuring his 7-week-old baby

HOUSTON

Anthony Willis is charged with injury to a child. According to court documents, on September 26, 2010, Willis allegedly grabbed and squeezed the baby at a home in north Harris County.

Authorities say they received a call to check on the baby's welfare on October 18, 2010. An officer noticed a 'large healing bruise' on the baby's face. The girl was transported to the hospital where an examination revealed the baby had nine healing rib fractures.

The charging documents state that Willis, 20, gave two explanations, saying he woke up in the middle of the night to find the baby bent over her swing and wedged between the swing and the couch. He also said that he may have sat on the girl at some point and does not remember.

The baby's mother, Maegan Manning, consented to a polygraph exam and passed.

Court documents further state that Willis was uncooperative and refused to give a polygraph exam. A doctor said that Willis' explanations for the baby's injuries were inconsistent with the injuries sustained and that they were likely caused by an adult using a squeezing motion on both sides of the baby's body.

Manning, the baby's mother, is charged with injury to a child in a separate case. She's accused of burning her then 7-month-old baby with a flat iron back in 2009.