An Osyka man remains in the Pike County jail after his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter told her mom he allegedly abused her 6-month-old child.
Jacob Kleppinger, 22, 1176 Hines Circle, was charged with felony child abuse, Pike County Chief Investigator Chris Bell said.
He said deputies received a call on July 19 from an emergency room nurse at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center around 9:40 p.m. after a mother brought in her 6-month-old child with what appeared to be handprints on the child’s face.
Bell said the mother, Kayla Dickerson, told deputies that she left the child and her 4-year-old daughter in Kleppinger’s care while she went to work.
Dickerson told deputies that after she arrived home from work Kleppinger told her that the child fell off the couch.
He said Kleppinger left the home when Dickerson noticed the bruising. He said Dickerson’s daughter told her that Kleppinger allegedly struck the baby in the face because the baby boy wouldn’t stop crying.
He said Dickerson’s daughter also told her that Kleppinger put a blanket over the baby’s face.
Bell said injuries to the baby’s face appeared to resemble handprints.
He remains in jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.
