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Jon Collins
St. Paul, Minn.

Father charged in shaken baby death

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Stearns County prosecutors say that a 32-year-old man shook his baby son hard enough to cause a brain injury that led to the child's death.

Robert John Kaiser of Albany, Minn., was charged Friday with second-degree murder in the 2-month-old's boy's death. The child was brought to Albany Hospital by his parents on Aug. 27 after experiencing breathing difficulties and seizures. The child was airlifted to Children's Hospital the next day, but died on Sept. 3 from his injuries.

According to the charges:

The baby's mother said Kaiser was taking care of the boy on Aug. 27, and that he had texted her earlier in the afternoon to complain that the baby was interfering with his sleep. She said the child seemed changed when she returned.

Kaiser initially denied that the baby had been harmed, but later told police that he fell while holding the child. A pediatrician examining the boy said his injuries were inconsistent with Kaiser's explanation.

"The Ramsey County Medical Examiner ruled Child A's cause of death as traumatic brain injury and manner of death as a homicide. The medical findings suggest that the mechanism of Child A's injury was shaking," according to the charges.

The autopsy and examination of the boy found evidence that he'd been injured even earlier, including bruises and rib fractures that were healing.

Kaiser made his first appearance in Stearns County District Court on Friday. Judge John Scherer set his bail at $500,000 with conditions. His next appearance is set for next Monday.