Indiana Man Choked Boy to Muffle His Crying; Mother Noticed Bruising and Contacted Police in Lafayette

Allegedly, Christian Miller told police his uncontrollable fury caused him to cover a child’s face with a blanket in an effort to silence the toddler’s sobs, which resulted in many crime charges against Miller in connection to the abuse.

A probable cause affidavit this week indicates that on Sept. 23 Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Officers were summoned to an area hospital investigating a report of possible child abuse. Following the pickup of her two children from Miller’s care, a lady reported bruises on the shoulders and neck of her two-year-old.

The mother brought the boy to his pediatrician after pictures of his injuries, who then sent her to the nearby hospital where police were called. Prosecutors claimed the toddler had a strangulation examination which revealed his injuries matched those of a strangulation.

Around the toddler’s neck, under his neck and behind his ears, a forensic nurse examiner saw petechia—dark patches on the skin resulting from broken capillaries. Miller informed the mother he had seen injuries as a rash while bathing the young child, according to the affidavit when she inquired about them.

Police said in an interview with the 4-year-old brother of the toddler that his brother could not breathe and claimed he witnessed Miller choke his brother when they were at Miller’s house.

Prosecutors said officers also spoke with a relative of the child’s mother, who claimed she also saw small red dots around the child’s neck following his return from Miller’s house. Although the relative informed authorities the dots appeared to be blood blisters, they did not seem to line up with a rash.

Police questioned Miller on October 28; he reported having uncontrolled anger. Prosecutors stated. Miller said to authorities that despite Miller’s attempts to calm the youngster, he would not stop sobbing or go to sleep while under his care in September.

Miller then gathered the child’s blanket and placed it over his face, saying to police, “to muffle his crying,” prosecutors said. Miller reportedly told cops he held the blanket on the toddler’s face with his right hand until his crying stopped.

Miller charges include battery resulting in serious physical injury, battery resulting in bodily injury to a minor younger than 14 years of age, battery on a person less than 14 years old, and strangling. Miller is housed in the Tippecanoe County Jail on surety bonds totaling $50,000 and $5,000 cash bond.

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