Union County Father Accused of Child Abuse

MONROE, NC – A Union County father is in jail accused of abusing his eight-week-old son. Investigators say the child is suffering from shaken baby syndrome.

Deputies arrested 27-year-old Ronald Roberts Saturday after his finance took their eight-week-old son to the hospital with severe head trauma.

Police were called to Novant Presbyterian after staff suspected the baby’s injuries were not an accident.

“It would have been virtually impossible for an 8-week-old child to inflict those injures on himself,” says Tony Underwood, with the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators say Roberts was taking care of the baby after his finance had gone back to work. He was in critical condition but is now stable.

“Whether or not the injuries are lifelong, we don’t know at this point, it’s still premature to say,” Underwood says.

No one was at the family’s home on Baucom and Son road in Monroe Tuesday. Neighbors tell WCCB the family only moved in recently.

They say no matter what happened, there’s no justification for hurting a child.

“No adult should ever lay their hands on kids like that for any other reason, other than hugs or love or anything like that, they shouldn’t be abusing them for anything,” says neighbor Rachel Klotz.