In a desperate bid for justice, a father has taken to social media after local prosecutors declined to pursue charges against a babysitter he claims harmed his child. Two months ago, when Alex Thompson and his partner, Sarah Miller, returned home from a night out, they found their one-year-old son, Ethan, crying in his crib while the babysitter was found asleep on the couch. The following morning revealed a disturbing sight: Ethan was covered in bruises.
Concerned for their son’s well-being, they rushed him to the hospital, where medical professionals noted his injuries and took photographs. They even pointed out a distinct handprint bruise on Ethan’s face. “I witnessed the evidence. There is no denying what happened,” Thompson stated in an interview. However, he claims that the county district attorney has stated that the case lacks sufficient ground for prosecution.
Frustrated by the lack of action, Thompson turned to Facebook to rally support and express his concerns. “I usually keep family matters private,” he wrote, “but this situation is different.” He highlighted that doctors confirmed the handprint bruise and a detective warned that the injuries could have had fatal consequences.
The reluctance of prosecutors to move forward with charges may stem from the complexities of Oregon’s child abuse laws. An anonymous source within the state’s prosecuting office explained that child abuse cases can be incredibly challenging to prove due to the legal requirements. Oregon law mandates that a prosecutor must demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that the child experienced substantial pain and serious physical injury. When there are no witnesses and the child is too young to articulate his pain, the burden of proof becomes exceedingly high.
“After waiting TWO months, we learn that charges are dropped because my one-year-old cannot verbally express he was abused, and my son didn’t show visible signs of pain or that this person ‘intentionally’ harmed him,” Thompson expressed in his post. “I have followed the advice of others to refrain from taking matters into my own hands. You have a verbal confession and evidence of a handprint! A deceased victim can’t identify their killer, yet a baby is not held to the same standard simply because he can’t speak?”
“Something must change,” he concluded. “No one should be able to harm a child and evade consequences simply because the child cannot provide a verbal account.”
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In summary, a father has sought public assistance to push for legal action against a babysitter accused of abusing his son after local authorities declined to press charges. The case highlights the complexities of child abuse laws and the challenges faced by families seeking justice.