Father Charged With Abuse Of 5-Month-Old

A Charlotte father has been arrested, accused of seriously injuring his 5-month-old daughter.

Steven Martin is charged with abusing the girl so severely that she remains in critical condition.

According to a search warrant in the case, Martin told police he had given the baby a bath and put her in a car seat and then gone into another room in the house.

When he returned, he said, the baby’s body was rigid and she looked like she was having a seizure.

The search warrant states that the girl’s injuries “were substantial, life-threatening and were not consistent with an accident.”

The emergency room doctor who treated the girl backed up that statement.

Brandy Stephens counsels abuse victims and family members at United Family Services, and said that stress is often a trigger for domestic violence.

“It’s hard to say if we’re actually seeing more cases. It seems that way,” she said. “It’s a tough job. When they’re feeling stressed out, it’s important to reach out and have a good support system to do that.”

The girl is still at Carolinas Medical Center.