Father of 3 Month Old, Tyler Jonathan Eastgate, 22, Gets Frustrated With Crying Baby

Posted on August 16th, 2011 by Jan Barrett

Kenner Louisiana Police have arrested a father of a three month old baby boy after Oschner’s Hospital in Kenner notified the police that they suspected child abuse .

Tyler Jonathan Eastgate, 22, took his baby to the hospital and told the staff there that his son was having trouble breathing, seizing and losing consciousness, but once the baby was examined by the doctors they reported to the police that the child had suffered bleeding on the brain, bruises to the cheek, chin and chest. They also said the baby had several scratches and bruises to his neck in a hand pattern. The doctors seemed to think the injuries were caused from blunt force trauma as in being violently thrown.
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Once the police started questioning the father, Eastgate admitted that the baby was constantly crying while he was babysitting him Monday and finally he just got so frustrated that he took the child and threw him up against the wall, in which the baby’s head hit the wall. Eastgate went on to tell the police that after that when the baby still didn’t stop crying he struck him in his face and then threw him into his crib causing him to hit his head once again.

To make matters even worse Eastgate admitted that on a separate occasion he accidentally dropped his son in which the baby hit his head on the floor.

Now this innocent 3 month old baby will more than likely have permanent neurological defects caused from the trauma he has suffered. How can anyone do this to a 3 month old baby? This just breaks my heart for this baby. He may very well suffer for the rest of his life just because his father couldn’t handle his crying. Sure a crying baby gets on one’s nerves but you don’t pick the baby up and throw it. Common sense would tell you that would only make the baby cry more. No wonder the baby wouldn’t stop crying, once he was thrown against the wall to begin with, who wouldn’t be?

Tyler Jonathan Eastgate is now in jail and he is being charged with second degree cruelty to a juvenile. He is currently being held with no bond set.

Anyone that knows anything more involving this case the Kenner Police Department is asking you to call them at 504-712-2222 or you can just call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Please join me in saying a prayer for this baby. I personally believe in miracles and I believe that if we all join together in prayer that this innocent sweet baby will have a chance in this life. I pray that God lays his hand on him and protects him from anymore abuse now.

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Kenner man arrested for beating 3-month-old son

KENNER, La. – Police arrested a Kenner man for beating his three-month-old son, after the man admitted to police in frustration to the child’s continual crying that he threw the infant against the wall, according to Kenner Police spokesman Sgt. Brian McGregor.

Tyler Jonathan Eastgate, 22, was charged with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, according to police.

The charges come after Kenner Police were called to Ochsner Kenner Monday to investigate a complaint of child abuse, according to police.

Initially, Eastgate told police and hospital staff that he went into his son’s room and found him having trouble breathing. He said the infant began having a seizure and lost consciousness, according to police.

“Upon examination and x-rays of the infant child, it was discovered that the victim had bleeding on the brain from two head fractures, bruises to his cheek, chin, and chest area. The victim also had several scratches and bruises to his neck in a hand pattern. Doctors advised the injuries the victim sustained are a result of blunt force trauma as in being violently thrown down,” said a statement from McGregor.

In a taped statement, Eastgate admitted to beating his son. The child’s constant crying upset Eastgate and he said he threw the infant against the wall. When the child continued to cry, according to police, Eastgate admitted that he struck his son in the face and threw him into the crib. Additionally, Eastgate told police, in a separate occasion, his son hit his head when the father said he accidentally dropped the boy.

The infant will likely have permanent neurological defects from the trauma, according to police.
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OMG that poor sweet innocent baby! This jerk needs to be locked up for the rest of his life but we know he probably won't be. When he sees the light of day he should have to register as a violent criminal who beats babies and he shouldn't be around any children!

I would like to know where the mother of this little one is in all of this. Where is she? What does she have to say?

There is a good chance the baby won't make it. Then, he will be up for murder.

This is a horrible person who did this to that poor, innocent baby!! We as adults can get frustrated with a crying baby that doesn't stop. But do we take our children or grandchildren and do what this monster did? He needs to locked up for years and years!! I would fear he would do this again to a child.

And again, Where is the mom??

A Kenner man was held under $500,000 bond Tuesday on a charge of throwing his 3-month-old son against a wall because of the infant's ceaseless crying.
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The child, Gabriel Jordan Eastgate, suffered two head fractures and likely sustained permanent neurological defects, police said..

"They don't know any more right now," Tina Finnegan, the child's grandmother, said of the doctors who examined the boy. "We're just waiting and praying."

The boy's father, Tyler Jonathan Eastgate, 22, told Kenner police he was at home with his son in the family apartment at 2850 Idaho Ave. on Monday. He first said he went into Gabriel's room and found the baby having trouble breathing, suffering seizures and losing consciousness, said Sgt. Brian McGregor, a Police Department spokesman.

But staff at Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner alerted police that X-rays showed bleeding on the infant's brain from two head fractures, bruises to his cheek, chin and chest and scratches and bruises to his neck. Doctors said the injuries resulted from blunt force trauma, as in being violently thrown down, McGregor said.

Eastgate then admitted that "out of frustration from the victim's constant crying," he threw the baby against the wall, McGregor said. Eastgate also struck the child in the face and threw him into his crib.

At the time, Gabriel's mother, Donna Ranney, was at ITT Technical Institute studying criminal justice, said Finnegan, who is Ranney's mother.

On a separate occasion, Eastgate said he accidentally dropped the baby on the floor, McGregor said.

Police booked him with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile. He's being held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center.

Relatives were puzzled by his alleged outburst. James Bates, Ranney's cousin who lives at the same apartment complex, said he's seen Eastgate many times soothe the crying baby by preparing a bottle or changing diapers "like a good father does."

"He's been so good to that baby," Bates said.

Finnegan said she and her daughter didn't suspect Eastgate would hurt the baby.

"She's puzzled because she can't see that he would have did this," Finnegan said. "I don't understand it because as far as I knew he was perfectly happy with the baby. This is all a shock."
Parental frustration with a baby's crying is common enough that parenting classes give mothers and fathers tips on how to handle their emotions. One suggestion is always to have handy a telephone number of someone who can help.

"If the crying is making you upset, then you've got to get outside help," said Stacie LeBlanc, executive director of the New Orleans Childrens' Advocacy Center and the Audrey Hepburn CARE Center, both at Children's Hospital in New Orleans. "Ask a friend. Get someone else to help you at that point."

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services' child abuse hotline may be called to report child abuse, or parents may call if they think they might hurt their child. The number is 855.452.5437.

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