Infant Dies In Kenosha After Being Beaten, Dropped By Father

The violent death of a baby on Tuesday night, allegedly at the hands of her father, has left Kenosha’s police department shaken.

Serenity Rose was pronounced dead at Kenosha Hospital and Medical Center shortly after being beaten and dropped to the ground. A witness told investigators that he heard thumping noises and a baby crying, and saw the father holding the child over his head and letting go.

The baby was injured so severely that her face was partially disfigured, Morrissey said. An autopsy revealed that she’d sustained three skull fractures.

At a news conference Wednesday, Chief John Morrissey said the baby’s 34-year-old father will be charged with murder.

“This is the most violent child death that I’ve ever been involved in,” said Morrissey, who has been a police officer for almost 34 years.

The incident stemmed from a disagreement with the baby’s mother, who also was injured and hysterical when police arrived at the scene. The man was arrested after a short standoff and after he set fire to the apartment that the couple shared.

The man is being held on probation violations. He has yet to be charged with his daughter’s death.

At the news conference, Morrissey urged citizens to take full advantage of tip lines and child abuse and domestic violence prevention services already in place.