Bridgeport Father Severely Beat Infant Son: DA

BRIDGEPORT, PA — A Bridgeport man faces attempted murder charges after severely beating his two-month-old son, authorities announced Thursday. The alleged attack comes after county caseworkers had attempted to limit the man's unsupervised contact with his son, due to what they termed unusual behavior during the baby's birth.

Daniel Rohloff, 33, left his child with broken ribs, brain bleeding, and other severe internal injuries, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said.

The incident occurred on Monday, July 26 at 7:22 p.m. on the 300 block of Jefferson Street in Bridgeport.

Footage recovered from home surveillance cameras show Rohloff entering a room carrying the baby, who was, at that time, quiet and content. Rohloff then covers the camera with a towel, and the baby then begins to "intensely scream," according to the DA's Office.

There are then several periods of crying and silence before Rohloff uncovers the camera and leaves the room, holding the baby, police said.

Hours later, at 10:17 p.m., Rohloff again enters the same room holding the baby, and again covers the camera, investigators said. Within 11 seconds, the baby begins intensely crying again, according to police.

Rohloff then leaves the room carrying the baby, which was then making a "loud screeching, unusual sounding cry," the DA's Office said.

The investigation uncovered that an intense argument then began between Rohloff and the baby's mother, with the mother threatening to call police, the DA said. The mother ultimately left at 10:40 p.m., but returned around midnight when Rohloff texted her that the baby was having seizures, police said.

When she arrived home, the baby was swaddled and sleeping, but began having seizures again the next morning. That's when the child was driven to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for evaluation.

Rohloff was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and related counts. He was arraigned Wednesday night, bail was set at $1 million, and he was booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 9.