Town of Madison Police Department

2120 Fish Hatchery Road · Madison, Wisconsin 53713

608-210-7262 · FAX: 608-210-7237

Scott T. Gregory, Chief of Police

MEDIA RELEASE

Date of Release: April 2, 2007

Released By: Detective Robb Hale

Incident: Child Abuse

Date: 02/11/2007

Case Number: 07-13593

Case Time: 9:38 p.m.

Address: 2700 block Pheasant Ridge Trail

Arrested Person :

Aaron P. Watkins 31 year old male

Town of Madison resident

Victim/Injuries:

At the time of incident the victim was a 5-month-old female

Suffered several skull fractures, retinal hemorrhaging (possible permanent blindness in one eye), bilateral subdural hemotomahs

Details of Incident:

The infant’s mother brought her 5-month-old baby into a local hospital for symptoms of lethargy and vomiting on 02/11/2007. The infant underwent a series of tests and suspicion of child abuse was reported by the hospital. The Town of Madison Police responded and began a very lengthy investigation. At the onset of the investigation the Town of Madison Police requested a Child Abuse specialist from the UW Child Protection Program in the Dept. of Pediatrics of the University Hospital. The Specialist accessed the infant and determined in the absence of a significant trauma history that the diagnosis was of an abusive injury (shaking-impact syndrome) and abusive head trauma.

The Town of Madison Police began an exhausted investigation and interviewed numerous individuals whom had contact with the infant. The investigation led the Town of Madison Police to Aaron Watkins whom had cared for the infant during the time frame the injuries occurred.

On 04/02/07 at 5:00 p.m., Aaron Watkins was arrested and booked into the Dane County Jail on 2 counts of Physical Abuse to a Child (felony) and 1 count of First-Degree Reckless Injury (felony).

A copy of this and other Town of Madison Police Department News Releases is available on the department’s website at www.town.madison.wi.us/police/index.html