A Missouri father faces child abuse charges after allegedly mishandling his 2-month-old daughter, resulting in 14 fractures across her body, according to authorities.
The Lee’s Summit Police Department arrested 20-year-old Richard A. Leonard on Wednesday. The probable cause affidavit states that Leonard and his wife took their daughter to a doctor’s appointment, where they were advised to bring her to the hospital due to bruising on her body. However, they refused, prompting the doctor to contact the Department of Family Services hotline to report the suspected abuse.
Officers visited the couple’s home in Lee’s Summit, a Kansas City suburb, to check on the infant. Police say the mother greeted them holding the child, who appeared calm. Later that evening, Leonard and his wife brought the girl to the hospital, where doctors discovered 14 fractures in her arms, legs, ribs, and fingers, along with bruising on her shoulder, face, and back.
Initially, Leonard claimed he had dropped the baby after tripping. When confronted with the extent of her injuries, he changed his story, saying he fell on top of her. Doctors told police that while this could explain some injuries, the nature and spread of the fractures indicated a pattern of abuse, not accidents.
The mother told police she and Leonard had been together since November 2023, married in May, and had their daughter in October. While she didn’t believe Leonard was capable of harming the child, she acknowledged she hadn’t done it herself. She also mentioned Leonard had been abused as a child and placed in foster care. Following interviews, Leonard reportedly confessed to abusing the baby, referred to as V1 in court documents.
According to the affidavit, Leonard explained that his frustration with the baby’s constant crying and his own anger issues led to the abuse. He admitted to being too rough while dressing, swaddling, and changing her diapers. Leonard said he used more force than necessary and felt bad when the baby reacted to the discomfort. He also revealed that as a child, he would pull his hair out to manage stress, and recently had reverted to that behavior due to mounting pressures, including the stress from moving to a new home.
Leonard expressed frustration that V1 would scream when he tried to hold her, which upset him the most.
Leonard was arrested and taken to the Jackson County Correctional Facility, where he later posted a $50,000 bond. A court hearing is scheduled for Monday, and the judge has ordered no contact between him, his wife, or the child while out on bond.
The Department of Family Services has taken custody of the baby.
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