Dakota James Eldridge, center, is led away from the bench of Judge Clarence Shattuck after a preliminary hearing at the City-County Courts building on Tuesday.The Hamilton County grand jury will hear charges that a 19-year-old father repeatedly tried to smother his infant while at Erlanger hospital.
General Sessions Court Judge Clarence Shattuck uttered disbelief at the charges but ruled enough evidence was presented in Tuesday’s hearing to send the case forward for possible indictment on attempted first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
“It’s difficult for this court to believe that a father would do what’s alleged here,” Shattuck said at the end of the hearing.
Dakota Eldridge shuffled into court in a red prison jumpsuit and stood next to his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Alan Dunn. Eldridge is being held on a $1.1 million bond.
If indicted and convicted, Eldridge could face a prison sentence of 15 to 25 years.
During the half-hour hearing, Assistant District Attorney Charlie Minor, who heads up many of the office’s child abuse cases, called Dr. Annamaria Church to explain what Erlanger medical staff reported to police.
Church, who works at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, said that, while the 3-month-old boy was in the hospital around May 27, his heart rate dropped three times. In each instance, Eldridge was the only person in the room with the infant.
Hospital camera footage captured images on two occasions of Eldridge pinching his son’s nose shut and covering his mouth. He admitted doing so to police during an interrogation, according to Chattanooga Police Officer Galen Fugh, who also testified Tuesday.
Contact staff writer Todd South at tsouth@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347.