Father Accused Of Stuffing Baby Wipe Down Infant's Throat

TARPON SPRINGS, FL -- A 5-month-old boy is on life support after his father reportedly stuffed a balled-up baby wipe down his throat.

The incident occurred Tuesday evening, July 17. Police said the father, Michael Hurley, 32, had been home alone with the baby. When the baby’s mother returned home from work, she found the infant choking.

She ran outside with the baby and yelled for help. Neighbors came to her aid and held the baby upside-down as the mother reached into the baby’s mouth and pulled out a balled-up baby wipe.

According to the arrest report, when officers arrived, Hurley told them he "knows this looks bad” and called it a "freak accident."

But officers were suspicious because the wipe was saturated with blood and balled up, something a 5-month-old child couldn’t do. The officers at the scene said it didn’t look accidental. It appeared as if the wipe had been intentionally stuck down the baby’s throat,

The baby was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital and later transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa where he is on life support in critical condition.

Hurley has been charged with attempted murder and is being held at the Pinellas County Jail without bond.

Image via Pinellas County Jail

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