Honesdale man arrested for attempted murder of baby

Posted 4/24/19

HONESDALE, PA — Dustin Michael Hazen, 27, of Honesdale, has been arrested for the attempted murder of a child and related charges. The affidavits of probable cause say, on April 15, the …

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Honesdale man arrested for attempted murder of baby

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HONESDALE, PA — Dustin Michael Hazen, 27, of Honesdale, has been arrested for the attempted murder of a child and related charges.

The affidavits of probable cause say, on April 15, the defendant, Hazen, was the prime custodian of an 18-month-old child, when the child sustained injuries that required immediate medical treatment. The injuries were multiple and severe, and include abrasions to his face and bruising to the child’s eyes, scalp, nose, ears, lips, mouth, neck, chest, back and buttocks. These injuries were confirmed by Dr. Berry of Wayne Memorial Hospital, who said the injuries were sustained within the last 24 hours and ventured that it was child abuse.

The child’s biological mother, Kelly Smith, confirmed that the child had no injuries to his face when she left the residence early that morning. When she returned at noon, the injuries were there and the child was crying uncontrollably. Hazen is not the child’s father.

A medical report, obtained on April 16 and authored by a member of the medical staff at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania, indicated the child had multiple non-accidental bruises on numerous parts of his body. It noted a particularly concerning linear bruise under the child’s chin consistent with a hand or object being placed there with such force to cause such a bruise, potentially limiting the baby’s ability to breathe by constricting air flow.

District Attorney Patrick Robinson said, “This attack on this 18-month-old baby shall be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This week was proclaimed ‘Child Abuse Prevention Month’ by the Wayne County Commissioners on April 11. This case is a prime example of why the work of Children and Youth Services (CYS) is so important. No child should be abused, and no child should ever be subjected to the horrific treatment that this 18-month-old baby was subjected to.”

news, honesdale, arrest, attempted murder, child abuse, Wayne county commissioners

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