A Donley County man is facing a capital murder charge tonight in the death of his 4 1/2-year-old son.
Robert Monroe Babcock, age 38, will be arraigned tomorrow for the crime, which occurred yesterday morning.
Sheriff Butch Blackburn said his office received a 911 call from Babcock Tuesday at 9:40 a.m. reporting that his son was unresponsive.
When emergency personnel and law enforcement arrived at the residence southeast of Clarendon, they found Chance Mark Jones on the floor in a bedroom, Blackburn said.
“It was obvious that he was unresponsive and evident that he had been assaulted,” the sheriff said. “He had trauma to his head and torso.”
The child was transported to Northwest Texas Hospital via LifeStar, and Babcock was taken in for an interview and held on a family violence charge.
Jones died at 6:42 a.m. this morning, and a capital murder warrant was obtained for Babcock. He was formally charged this evening.
Blackburn said Babcock has no criminal history to speak of, and he also said Babcock had only had custody of the boy through a CPS intervention for about the last month.
“This young, defenseless child suffered a horrific death and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Chance.” 100th Judicial District Attorney Luke Inman said in a statement released by the Department of Public Safety.
If convicted of capital murder, Babcock could face the death penalty.
The Texas Rangers are assisting with the investigation.
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