Man Admits He Abused Infant Girl, Police Say

A man told police he squeezed, shook and twisted his baby daughter until bones snapped because she wouldn’t stop crying, authorities said Friday.

According to a police affidavit, Jose Meza, 25, confessed to abusing his 3-month-old daughter as early as a month after her birth, shaking her because she wouldn’t stop crying. X-rays showed 17 fractures to the child’s legs, arms, ribs and collarbone in various stages of healing.

“When the baby would not stop crying, he held the baby very tight against his chest and squeezed her ... until he heard bones breaking,” the affidavit said.

At his arraignment, Meza asked for another chance to care for his daughter.

“Not only are you not going to get a chance to take care of the baby, you’re not going to see the baby,” Judge James Leary said.

Meza was charged with assault and ordered held on $100,000 bail. Latoya Jackson, the baby’s mother, was charged with lying about the injuries, endangering the welfare of a child and hindering Meza’s arrest. She was released on $2,000 bail.

The baby, now in state custody, was in fair condition at Children’s Hospital in Boston and was expected to recover, authorities said.

“The doctor who checked the child yesterday said it was the worst case of child abuse that he had seen,” Sgt. Tim Goulden said Friday.