In Zeeland, Michigan, news stories report that Scott Crowder admitted to investigators that he shook and hit his infant son during an angry outburst because the baby wouldn’t stop crying. Crowder was arraigned in Holland and remains in the Ottawa County Jail without bond. He is in violation of his probation and is also charged with child abuse. The infant, Kobi Crowder, remains in critical condition at DeVos Children’s Hospital. He has been there for three days.
Crowder has a past history of domestic violence. The legal proceedings for this matter include termination of his parental rights to his two children, Kobi and Madeline. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
Factors may be present that cause adults and their infants and children to be more at risk for abusive events such as Shaken Baby Syndrome and Traumatic Brain Injury. Infants at risk include infants less than one year age, male infants, infants of twin or multiple births, premature infants, infants with health problems and infants that have inconsolable crying spells.
Adults at risk for committing abusive acts include adults with poor coping skills, unrealistic expectations, substance abuse, former victims of abuse and adults with mental health problems. Environmental factors that usually culminate in abusive events include social isolation, dysfunctional family characteristics and socio-economic burdens. However, SBS may occur in any setting and it is important to know the signs and symptoms that may be present in an infant or child that may be a victim of SBS.
