Man accused of beating infant son claims dog caused skull fracture, bruising

Terrence Wayne Harper, 30, charged with injury to child

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police arrested a man Monday night who they say injured his child and blamed the family dog for the multiple injuries the 4-month-old suffered.

Terrence Wayne Harper, 30, is charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury.

According to police, the special victims unit began investigating Harper on July 12. 

An investigation found that Harper's 4-month-old child had sustained fractures to the right side of his skull, suffered a brain hemorrhage and had bruising over his torso, police said.

The child is receiving care at University Hospital.

According to an arrest affidavit, Harper texted his wife, who was out of town working, that their son "was having problems going to the bathroom, having a 'blow out' and being fussy."

Harper then sent his wife a video that showed the boy propped up on the couch, the affidavit said.

"She said the victim looked lifeless," the officer investigating the case said in the affidavit.

The toddler's mom immediately left Austin and took her son to a pediatrician's office, where he vomited and had a seizure, the affidavit said.

During his arrest Harper refused to speak to police and was booked into the Bexar County Jail. 

He is charged with injury to a child and is being held in lieu of $150,000 bond.

Harper was listed as a suspect in 2012 for a similar case, where a 5-month-old died in his custody, the affidavit said.

He was never charged with a crime. The affidavit didn't list a reason why.


About the Authors:

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.

David Ibañez has been managing editor of KSAT.com since the website's launch in October 2000.