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Man accused of beating infant

BY BECKY MALKOVICH, THE SOUTHERN

Wednesday, January 2, 2008 9:21 PM CST

FRANKLIN COUNTY - A Whittington man is accused of using his fists to beat his 4-month-old son on New Year's Day.

Russell E. "Rusty" Kelley, 42, is charged with aggravated battery of a child, a Class X felony, in connection with the beating, Franklin County Sheriff's Department Investigator Kevin Skurat said.

The child was first seen at Franklin Hospital in Benton on Tuesday morning before being airlifted to Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis, Skurat said.

The infant had significant bruising on his face and head and was bleeding from the nose and mouth.

There were also bruises around the child's lips and cuts inside his mouth, which could be an indication of a forced feeding attempt, Skurat said. Less injurious bruising was observed on other parts of the child's body.

"His little head and face had a lot of bruises ... not a pretty sight," Skurat said.

A Cardinal Glennon spokeswoman said hospital policy forbids commenting on patient conditions, but Skurat said hospital personnel informed the department Wednesday that the child did not have a fractured skull.

"That at least is good news," he said.

Kelley was at the Benton hospital when investigators Skurat and John Graskewicz arrived after being notified of the child's condition by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Kelley later accompanied them to the sheriff's department for questioning.

The child's mother was working when the incident took place, Skurat said, and Kelley was watching the infant and another child. Two other people were at the residence, but were sleeping when the incident took place.

The second child was removed from the home.

Kelley remains in the Franklin County Jail. beckymalk@gmail.com / 927-5633