Current:Home > ScamsFormer assistant dean of Texas college accused of shaking, striking infant son to death-VaTradeCoin
Former assistant dean of Texas college accused of shaking, striking infant son to death
View Date:2025-01-08 16:02:16
The former dean of a college in Texas is being held on a $300,000 bond after being charged with the murder of his 6-month-old son, according to court records.
Emmitt Eugene Carter, 38, was arrested on Friday for striking his son with a blunt object, striking his son against a blunt object and shaking the child with his hands, Harris County Court records show. The alleged incident occurred on July 8, 2023.
Carter was the assistant dean of student success at Lone Star College's campus in Tomball for the last two years, but he's also served as the school's manager for student support services since 2013, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He had no prior criminal history before his arrest, court records show.
"We received multiple reports of charges that were filed against a former employee," Lone Star College said in a statement emailed to USA TODAY. "This incident did not occur on college property and did not involve any other employee or student. This individual is no longer an employee of Lone Star College. There will be no further statement issued."
'A wonderful man of faith'
Carter made his first court appearance Monday morning for a bond hearing, where his defense attorneys requested he be released on his own recognizance. The lawyers also argued that Carter performed chest compressions on his son on July 8 after noticing the child was struggling to breathe and choking, thus causing the broken ribs, KHOU reported.
"Anytime parents have to bury a child is awful, especially a child that age," defense attorney Will Vaughn told USA TODAY on Tuesday. "From all my conversations and interactions with Dr. Carter, he's proven himself to be just a wonderful man of faith, an outstanding citizen (and) a man who values education."
Vaughn said a lot of questions remain surrounding Carter's son's injuries.
"There's nothing that we've seen, at least, that can connect (the child's) injuries to Dr. Carter or the period in which he was watching him by himself," according to Vaughn. "Not much has been said, or I haven't seen any evaluations or investigations into his ex-wife, who was out of town at the time."
Why did it take over a year to charge Emmitt Eugene Carter?
Prosecutors said during the hearing that charges took over a year to be brought against Carter because they did not want to rush to judgment.
“We want to make sure that everybody has equal justice under the law, that we’re fair and we apply the laws and the facts appropriately especially in cases like this when you’re dealing with an accused and a child at 6 months old and a child who doesn’t have a voice,” said Edward Appelbaum with the Harris County District Attorney's Office, per KHOU.
Vaughn said he didn't know why it took a year to charge his client, but he attributed the long wait to possibly to the "huge backlog" of cases in Harris County courts.
"You would think that if a man were accused of killing his infant son, it would be up top of a stack on someone's desk," the attorney said.
Applebaum told USA TODAY on Tuesday that the autopsy of Carter's son held up the charges.
"Autopsies actually take a long time," the prosecutor said. "Forensic pathologists are not as quick as they could be a gunshot wound or a stabbing wound, those types of injuries are pretty apparent and it's a little bit easier."
Since Carter's son died from "abusive head trauma," the autopsy process was "a lot more lengthy." He said it could take anywhere between six and nine months to complete an autopsy of a child.
veryGood! (11156)
Related
- Chiefs block last-second field goal to save unbeaten record, beat Broncos
- Hello Kitty's Not a Cat, Goofy's Not a Dog. You'll Be Shocked By These Facts About Your Fave Characters
- Georgia prosecutor accused of stealing public money pleads guilty in deal that includes resignation
- Tallulah Willis Shares Insight Into Her Mental Health Journey Amid New Venture
- Jennifer Lopez Turns Wicked Premiere Into Family Outing With 16-Year-Old Emme
- Farmers in 6 Vermont counties affected by flooding can apply for emergency loans
- When are the 2024 MTV VMAs? Date, time, performers and how to vote for your faves
- 'So sad': 15-year-old Tennessee boy on cross-country team collapses, dies on routine run
- Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and More React to Craig Melvin Replacing Hoda Kotb as Co-Anchor
- Maui judge agrees to ask state Supreme Court about barriers to $4B wildfire settlement
Ranking
- Katherine Schwarzenegger Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 3 With Chris Pratt
- As Mike McCarthy enters make-or-break year, unprecedented scrutiny awaits Cowboys coach
- Look: Olympic medalist Simone Biles throws out first pitch at Houston Astros MLB game
- NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and His Brother Matthew, 29, Dead After Biking Accident
- Advocates Expect Maryland to Drive Climate Action When Trump Returns to Washington
- Richard Simmons' final days: Fitness guru deferred medical care to spend birthday at home
- What to know about Johnny Gaudreau, Blue Jackets All-Star killed in biking accident
- Canadian rail union says it has filed lawsuits challenging back-to-work orders
Recommendation
-
1 monkey captured, 42 monkeys still on the loose after escaping research facility in SC
-
NYC Environmental Justice Activists Feel Ignored by the City and the Army Corps on Climate Projects
-
Court stops Pennsylvania counties from throwing out mail-in votes over incorrect envelope dates
-
White House pressured Facebook to remove misinformation during pandemic, Zuckerberg says
-
Pedro Pascal's Sister Lux Pascal Debuts Daring Slit on Red Carpet at Gladiator II Premiere
-
Are 'provider women' the opposite of 'trad wives'? They're getting attention on TikTok.
-
1 officer dead, 2 officers injured in Dallas shooting; suspect dead, police say
-
Who Is Paralympian Sarah Adam? Everything to Know About the Rugby Player Making History