MERCER COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – A father is in jail after a six-month-old baby was found unresponsive.
According to court documents, on September 11, 2020, a six-month-old baby was taken to Princeton Community Hospital due to being unresponsive. The baby was transferred to Charleston Area Medical Center via helicopter, where he is currently receiving treatment.
A medical provider told Deputy Sommers with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department that the baby is in serious medical condition and has sustained a detrimental neurological injury due to non-accidental trauma.
During an interview with the father, Dakota Steele, and the mother, it was determined that Steele was the only person with the baby approximately 45 minutes before being taken to the hospital. Stelle also stated that he found the child unresponsive but failed to act. 45 minutes later, the mother found the baby unresponsive and had him transported to the hospital.
Steele is charged with child abuse resulting in serious injury. He is currently in Southern Regional Jail under a 50,000 dollar cash-only bond.