Huntingdon County man charged after infant suffers skull fractures

HUNTINGDON, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Huntingdon County man is in jail after allegedly assaulting a one-month-old, causing severe head injuries that medical professionals say were consistent with blunt force trauma, according to the criminal complaint.

Aaron James Duguay, 29, was arraigned Saturday, April 26, and is being held at the Huntingdon County Prison after failing to post bail, which was set at $100,000.

According to the affidavit filed by Pennsylvania State Police, the investigation began April 24 after Huntingdon County Children and Youth Services received a report of a baby with a skull fracture. The infant was initially taken to Penn Highlands Hospital before being flown to Hershey Medical Center due to intracranial bleeding.

Medical staff at both facilities raised concerns about the nature of the injury. The Doctor who examined the child told troopers that the fracture was “major” and “displaced,” and that a toy reportedly involved would not be capable of causing such an injury if it fell from the crib, according to the criminal complaint.

The Physician Assistant who saw the baby for a routine wellness check-up three days prior reported no signs of head trauma or abnormalities at the time. However, when the mother called days later with concerns about swelling, an X-ray was ordered, revealing the fractures.

Further investigation revealed that the injuries were more severe than initially thought. The Child Protection Team determined there were fractures on both sides of the infant’s skull, describing the more significant one as a compound fracture on the left side. Another Doctor who later reviewed the case stated the fractures were caused by blunt force trauma and likely occurred during separate incidents.

Duguay initially claimed the injury occurred when a toy fell onto the child in her crib, but during a police interview on April 25, he confessed to a different account. Duguay told investigators that on the night of April 20, he became frustrated with the baby’s crying, placed her on a recliner, and walked away. The baby then fell off the chair, potentially hitting the floor or a coffee table. Duguay admitted to then punching the baby on the right side of the head out of anger, according to the complaint.

The criminal complaint states that Duguay provided a written confession, stating he “acted out of anger” and “smacked her on the right side, leaving a mark.”

Duguay faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of children. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 7 at Central Court in Huntingdon County.