7-month-old died from child abuse while in the care of North Texas man, police say
A Mineral Wells baby who died last week from head injuries was the victim of child abuse, and his 21-year-old caretaker was in custody Tuesday, according to Mineral Wells police.
Kace Wayne Harrison, 7 months old, died on Aug. 27 at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth from the injuries he sustained almost two weeks earlier, Mineral Wells police said.
A few days after the baby’s death, Christopher Andrew Cervantez, 21, of Mineral Wells, was arrested in the case. He faces a charge of capital murder in Kace’s death.
In mid-August, Cervantez was arrested on a charge of injury to a child after Kace was rushed to a Palo Pinto County hospital. The Mineral Wells man later was free after posting bond.
The case began at about 1 p.m. on Aug. 14 in Mineral Wells when emergency crews responded to a medical call in the 1800 block of SE 14th Avenue.
Cervantez reported the child had fallen off a bed. The infant’s mother, who was away from the residence on a personal errand, told authorities she frequently left the infant in Cervantez’s care.
Paramedics found Kace unresponsive. They rushed the baby to Palo Pinto General Hospital. Emergency crews reported that the infant’s injuries and circumstances reported to them appeared suspicious.
At the Palo Pinto hospital, hospital officials also reported to Mineral Wells police that the baby’s injuries appeared inconsistent with a fall.
Police referred to the injuries as a “shaken baby case,” according to a news release.
Medical evaluation and assessment of the child indicated he was suffering from a serious closed head injury.
The baby was taken to the Fort Worth hospital where he died last week. Detectives met with Fort Worth hospital officials, who also noted the baby’s injuries were not consistent with a fall from a bed.
Cervantez was in the Palo Pinto County Jail on Tuesday in lieu of $1 million bond.
