Oakland, CA — Ta’Jon Riggins-Cooper, a 16-year old mom, is still in complete shock after her 18-year old boyfriend reportedly bit off their baby son’s nose. When police arrived, they found the one month-old boy bleeding from the face in the family’s apartment. The baby is listed in stable condition at Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland.
The boyfriend, Joshua Cooper, admitted doing it because he said he was frustrated when he couldn’t get the baby to stop crying. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of child abuse and aggravated mayhem, and faces a penalty of up to 12 years. The aggravated mayhem charge, however, carries a potential penalty of life in prison. His bail had been set to $750,000.
Doctors say the baby suffered a skull fracture and a brain hemorrhage, and that one-third of his nose had been severed. They expect him to be in the hospital for at least 2 months.
The mother of the baby told reporters, “Waking up and seeing my baby in the hospital. It hurts. It hurts my feelings a lot. My heart is broken.” She added that she is confused, hurt, lost and wonders how his own father could hurt him.
She is planning a fundraiser on April 5th at Oakland Children’s Hospital to help with his medical expenses.
For now, though, the baby is in the custody of the local Child Welfare Services.