Absolutely sick...

[imgreat95]

Mom accused of using infant to strike boyfriend
Monday, October 09, 2006

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

ERIE, Pa. -- A woman used her 4-week-old baby as a weapon during a domestic dispute, swinging the infant through the air and striking her boyfriend with the child, authorities said.

Chytoria Graham, 27, of Erie, remained in the Erie County Jail today, unable to post $75,000 bond on charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and simple assault.

"The baby was swung at the individual that she was arguing with," Erie District Judge Thomas Robie told the Erie Times-News for today's editions.

District Attorney Bradley Foulk said the child was critically injured in the incident about 3:30 a.m. yesterday. The infant, whose gender was not released, was flown by helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital.

"Never, never, never -- I can never remember anything like this," Mr. Foulk said.

It was not immediately clear if the man Ms. Graham allegedly attacked was the baby's father.

Authorities removed four other children from Graham's home and they were in the custody of the Erie County Office of Children and Youth.

[Sheafaithful]

Any moron can be a parent....this is beyond wrong.

[I Are Baboon]

What the heck kind of name is "Chytoria"?

[Nanner]

Geez. That's sickening. Damn right her kids should be removed from her. I hope she's put away and rots there.

[FrankieG]

That is just awful on so many levels. Poor little baby :(

[Rockin Robin]

How absolutely horrible! :( A mother's instinct is to protect her child, nt brandish it. Unfrigginbelivable.

[Royce]

What the heck kind of name is "Chytoria"?

LOL.

[imgreat95]

By LISA THOMPSON
lisa.thompson@timesnews.com


Chytoria Graham snapped.

That's what she told police.

She had been drinking. She was angry.

And when a fight with her boyfriend ramped up just after 2 a.m. Sunday, she said she grabbed things and threw them.

One of them was her 4-week-old son, police said.

Graham grabbed the baby from the bed by his legs, swung him and hit her live-in boyfriend and the baby's father, Deangelo Troop, police said.

The blow fractured the baby's skull and caused bleeding in the brain, Erie police said.

He was taken to Hamot Medical Center and then flown by LifeStar helicopter to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he lay Monday in a drug-induced coma, his condition critical.

Graham, meanwhile, remained in the Erie County Prison on a felony charge of aggravated assault and misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. Bond was set at $75,000 cash.

Troop, 20, who also has a 1-year-old son with Graham, 27, told the Erie Times-News on Monday that Graham is very upset about what happened and did not mean to hurt their child.

"People are trying to make a big deal about it, but she did not do it on purpose," he said.

"It was just a mistake," he said.

Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk and Erie Police Chief Steve Franklin said they continued to monitor the child's condition Monday. Erie police on Monday interviewed more people in connection with the case, Foulk said. The Erie police identification unit had combed the couple's apartment for evidence on Sunday.

An initial criminal complaint filed Sunday contained scant information about the incident. But late Monday afternoon, investigating officer Erie police Lt. John Ayers filed a revised complaint that laid out in greater detail the events police believe led to the baby's injuries.

Police said they were called to Graham's residence in the 300 block of East Fourth Street at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

There, they said, they saw signs of a struggle -- broken items and knocked-over furniture.

Police said they learned at the scene that Graham had picked up the baby and swung it at Troop. In a later videotaped interview, Graham confirmed that, police said.

According to the criminal complaint, Graham told police:

She had been out drinking Saturday and early Sunday. When she came home, she began arguing with Troop. The fight escalated to pushing and shoving. Graham then told police she "snapped" and began grabbing and throwing things at Troop.

She turned and grabbed the baby from the bed, where it was wrapped in a blanket.

She then swung the baby and hit Troop.

After Graham put the baby down, Troop punched her in the face and blackened her eye, police said. Her police photo later showed her left eye swollen shut.

Troop was not charged in connection with that injury.

Erie police Capt. Frank Kwitowski said officers would review the whole case to see if any charges against Troop were warranted.

"I do not anticipate any at this time," he said.

Police said Graham told them there was "no chance" Troop had hit the child.

Police and Troop both said Graham called 911 after the incident.

"She called (911) herself. She said, 'I think I hurt my baby,'" Troop said.

The Erie County Public Defender's Office assigned Erie lawyer Alison M. Scarpitti to represent Graham. Scarpitti said she could not comment yet because she had not been able to meet with Graham.

In addition to the 4-week-old and the 1-year-old, Graham has three other children, ages 9, 7, and 5, Troop said.

The Office of Children and Youth removed all four of those children from Troop and Graham's home Sunday. They have been placed with Graham's mother, Troop said.

Graham's mother, Gloria Graham, declined to comment Monday.

News of the case traveled across the country and around the world Monday, announcing itself in headlines such as "Mom accused of swinging baby as weapon."

Calls from media outlets poured into Foulk's office.

On Sunday, he said he could "never, never, never" remember seeing anything like this case during his more than six years in office.

He largely refrained from comment Monday, saying it is still early in the investigation.

"We need time to sit down and do an overall evaluation of this particular case," Foulk said.

The case prompted one reader to consider pursuing the child for adoption.

"I am so appalled that something like this could happen," Christine Middleton, a Minneapolis attorney, wrote in an e-mail to the Erie Times-News.

"I feel compelled to look into adopting this little one."

LISA THOMPSON can be reached at 870-1802 or by e-mail.

Last changed: October 10. 2006 5:38AM

[Nanner]

"People are trying to make a big deal about it, but she did not do it on purpose," he said.

"It was just a mistake," he said.



"People are trying to make a big deal out of it"?!?!? :angry:

It is a big deal, you sh*t for brains.

What a piece of work. Both of them. They should both be locked up and left to rot.

[rockin500]

castrate the guy since he aint fit to breed, throw her in prison for a looooong time.

[bonbon]

What the heck kind of name is "Chytoria"?

Same question... haha

[redsfan]

I think her punishment ought to begin with using her as a weapon. They should grab her and use her to hit something hard like she did.