Dakota Eldridge, 19, has been charged with attempted first degree murder and aggravated child abuse.A 19-year-old father, who faces an attempted murder charge after Chattanooga police say he tried to suffocate his son at Erlanger hospital, had his case sent to the grand jury by Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Clarence Shattuck this morning.
Dakota Eldridge, of Sparta, told police he pinched his 12-week-old son's nose and covered his mouth several times around May 27 while his son was at the hospital.
Investigators reviewed the EKG machine recordings that showed the infant's heart rate dropping when Eldridge was in the room. He would yell for a nurse after the act, according to the police report.
Eldridge's son was taken to the hospital from Rhea County by ambulance. Eldridge said his son was at the hospital because blood was found in his diaper, the report states.
Eldridge remains in jail on a $1 million bond. He also faces a charge of aggravated child abuse.