27-year-old man, who repeatedly struck his 3-year-old son “really hard,” breaking his thigh bone, out of anger and frustration just because the boy refused to sleep, was charged
Pennsylvania – In a deeply disturbing case in Pennsylvania, a 27-year-old father, identified as M. Torres, has been charged with felony assault and child endangerment after inflicting severe injuries on his 3-year-old son during what authorities described as a violent and brutal attack. The father is facing charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child, stemming from a July 20 incident in which he beat the toddler so severely that the child’s thigh bone — the strongest bone in the body — was both broken and dislocated.
According to a statement released by the DA’s Office, Torres is accused of repeatedly hitting the boy “multiple times” during an outburst of anger and frustration. When confronted by police, Torres admitted that he struck the child repeatedly and that the strikes were “really hard.” He reportedly confessed that he lashed out because the child “wouldn’t go to sleep.”
The investigation began when officers from the police department responded to a call from nursing staff at a hospital. Medical personnel had requested a welfare check after a 3-year-old boy was admitted with serious injuries they believed were the result of child abuse. As hospital staff assessed the child’s condition, the extent of his injuries quickly raised red flags. Doctors determined that the boy had suffered a displaced fracture to his thigh bone — an injury inconsistent with normal childhood activity or accidental trauma. Medical professionals immediately contacted law enforcement.
During the police interview, Torres admitted not only to the assault but also to his state of mind at the time. He told investigators that the child’s refusal to sleep had triggered his rage, and in a particularly chilling moment during the attack, Torres reportedly said, “I’m going to give him something to cry about,” referring to his own son. The child was treated for his injuries at the hospital, though details regarding his current condition or custody arrangements have not been released due to privacy protections.
Torres waived his preliminary hearing on August 27. By doing so, he allowed the case to move forward to the county court without requiring prosecutors to first present evidence of probable cause at the lower court level. Since his arrest, Torres has remained incarcerated at the county prison, unable to post the $75,000 bail set by the court. A date for his next court appearance has not yet been made public.
This case has left a community shaken, as another tragic example of violence inside the home. The fact that such extreme harm was inflicted upon a toddler for simply struggling to fall asleep has drawn sharp criticism and calls for justice. While the legal system now moves forward in prosecuting Torres, his young son continues to recover from an ordeal that no child should ever have to endure.
