Pasco deputies says man shook, threw infant

PORT RICHEY

Deputies says man shook, threw infant

An 18-year-old man is accused of shaking and throwing an 8-month-old infant Wednesday morning because she wouldn't stop crying. The baby was taken to All Children's Hospital with extensive head injuries, according to the Pasco Sheriff's Office.

At first, Richard M. Amabile told doctors and investigators the infant fell off a kitchen table and hit her head at his home in Port Richey, a report states. But the child's injuries were not consistent with that story and, when confronted, Amabile said he lied.

"He became frustrated with her crying, at which time, he shook her and threw her down," the report states. Amabile said after throwing the baby, he did place her on a kitchen table, where she fell and hit her head on the tile floor, authorities said.

Amabile "admitted that after throwing the victim down her demeanor changed; she stopped crying and began to whimper," the report states. "The defendant advised he knew what he did was wrong."

Amabile, of 6814 Amarillo St. in Port Richey, was arrested Friday and charged with first degree aggravated child abuse. As of Saturday, he was being held at the Pasco jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.