Tennessee – A Tennessee man was taken into custody last week and charged with first-degree murder in perpetuation of aggravated chiId abuse following the death of his chiId. Tennessee authorities launched their investigation following a report of an unresponsive baby at an apartment. Upon arrival, the responding officers found the 3-month-old child with multiple severe injuries. He was transported to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

Investigators determined that the child had been in the defendant’s, 18-year-old A. Dukes, care at the time of the injuries. During questioning, the father reportedly admitted to causing harm to his baby. He was subsequently taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder in perpetuation of aggravated child abuse. He is currently being held in the county jail on a $1 million bond.

The Police Department’s Homicide Unit and Special Crimes detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. An autopsy has been scheduled at the Regional Forensic Center to determine the exact cause of death and to assess the full extent of the injuries.

After being taken into custody, the father allegedly admitted during an interview that he had pressed his baby’s neck and chin in frustration, according to the warrant. These actions reportedly caused the child to have difficulty breathing. He also allegedly admitted to applying force to the child’s abdomen. An autopsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death and the full extent of the infant’s injuries.

The victim’s family has expressed their grief over the loss. The child’s grandmother described him as “very precious” and shared that he was a fighter from a young age. The family is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

The father is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on October 28, 2025. The investigation remains ongoing, and further details will be released as they become available.