JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The man accused of killing his 6½-month-old son last week showed no signs of being violent, according to his wife. But she told Channel 4 she wants her husband to suffer for what he did.
"I hope the tattoo with our son's name that he has on his hand will haunt him forever," the mother said.
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Mark Harris (pictured, left) was charged with aggravated child abuse Wednesday after telling police he threw his son, Kai, on the floor when he wouldn't stop crying.
Police say the baby suffered several skull fractures, internal bleeding and brain swelling. The boy died the next day at a hospital.
While the boy's mother didn't want to give an on-camera interview, she told WJXT's Lisa Salvati that Harris told her it was an accident.
"He told me the baby fell off the bed, and hit his head on a play phone. He stated to me -- 'I think he broke his leg. His toes are still moving.' I tried to call an ambulance, but the phone was unplugged. So I grabbed my son and drove him to the hospital."
But the mother said that when police interviewed Harris, he gave a much different story.
"He (Harris) told police that he was making a bottle for the baby, the bottle spilled over in the microwave, he got mad, threw his son on the floor, picked him up and put him in bed. The baby wouldn't stop crying, so he punched him in the abdomen."
Kai's mom told Channel 4 that she's trying hard to cope with her son's death.
Harris was charged with aggravated child abuse and murder, and is being held on $2.5 million bond. A grand jury will decide whether to indict him on the murder charge.
Previous Story:
- November 21, 2003: Father Charged With Murder After Baby Dies
- November 20, 2003: Police Arrest Father For Possible Child Abuse