Father Of Baby Suffocated By Mother Speaks Out
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Shawn Nelson says there's only one thing he wants for Thanksgiving, "and I've got it right here."
He traveled to Pittsburgh from Boone County, W. Va., holding his baby - who was the subject of a criminal prosecution of his wife Rachel Nelson.
She is charged with trying to suffocate the child while the baby was a patient at UPMC Children's Hospital last month.
Her preliminary hearing was postponed Wednesday while she continues to be evaluated for competency to undergo the legal process.
Nelson would not discuss the specifics of the charges against his wife, but he said he was also gratified for the work of Children's Hospital.
"I'm just thankful for the hospital up here," he said.
It was at Children's where the then 4-month-old baby almost lost his life twice in a matter of days at the hands of his mother, say Pittsburgh Police.
Investigators say she would compress the child, smothering or suffocating him until near death, them resuscitating the child.
They think the incidents happened as many as 15 times between August and October. Some of the alleged smothering happened where the family lives.
For Shawn Nelson, the bottom line now is that the baby is okay.
"He's doing great," said Nelson.
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