Huntington dad admits repeatedly beating baby

HUNTINGTON, Ind. (WANE) -- A Huntington man appeared in court Monday, for allegedly physically abusing his four-month-old son to the point it caused blindness, severe brain damage, seizures and the need to be put on life support in October of 2011.

According to police reports, Troy Schnitz, 22, admitted to four separate incidents when he injured his son, Raiden Schnitz, because he said he lost control while under the influence of a synthetic marijuana drug known as Spice.

However, the four incidents in question are only the ones Schnitz could recall. He also told police said that the abuse was so frequent he couldn’t recount every single incident.

The admitted incidents included one earlier in the month of October when Schnitz said he slammed a bottle into Raiden’s mouth, which ripped his frenulum, or the piece of skin between the lips and gums under the tongue.

Schnitz also told police of the time when he grabbed Raiden from his bed and slammed him down into the bouncy seat next to his bed. Police said Raiden was said to have had seizures the next day.

In the third incident, Schnitz admitted he slammed Raiden on the floor and hit his head on the carpet ‘very hard.’

Schnitz also told police of a bruise on Raiden’s eye, detached retinas and bleeding inside the brain, which came from shaking Raiden. Raiden is said to be blind from being shaken so aggressively.

On October 29,2011, Schitz said he heard Raiden crying, went upstairs, saw that his son was not breathing and called 911. Police reports said Raiden didn’t have a heartbeat and wasn’t breathing when he was taken to the hospital. Crews were able to get him breathing again and put him on a ventilator.

Schnitz originally told the doctors Raiden had fallen out of his swing and hit his head on the bar, which caused seizures. But the 22-year-old later admitted to shaking Raiden and slamming him on the floor.

According to police reports, Schnitz thought he had killed Raiden.

Police reports also indicated that Raiden was taken to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and put on life support. He was breathing off the ventilator, had blood in his lungs and had severe brain damage.

Schnitz’s wife Lauren, who is also Raiden’s mother, said she had taken Raiden to the hospital prior to October 29 because of the seizures and other health concerns. Reports indicated she was very emotional when speaking with police and said she had no idea her husband had been harming their son.

Troy Schnitz was arrested in December of 2011 and charged with four counts of battery. Three of the charges are Class B felonies and one is a Class D felony. The charges are for skull fractures on Raiden’s head, detached retinas, bleeding inside his brain and a tear on the inside of his lip. Schnitz was also charged with a count of neglect of a dependent.

Schnitz’s bond was set at $100,000. He posted bond when $5,000 was paid to the bail bondsman and $5,000 to the clerk of courts.

Schnitz appeared in the Huntington Circuit Court on Monday where he was assigned a public defender. Prosecutor Amy Richison requested the judge to review the public defender appointment, stating he should pay for an attorney if he was able to post $10,000 for bond. But the judge decided to allow Schnitz to have a public defender.

Schnitz will be back in court on March 12.

NewsChannel 15 has been informed that Raiden is still alive and is waiting to hear his current condition and location.