Greenfield, Indiana — A 25-year-old Indiana man is facing a felony charge after his 4-month-old daughter was hospitalized with multiple brain bleeds and hemorrhages that investigators described as “too numerous to count,” according to law enforcement and court documents.
Lance Kerschner is accused of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury. The investigation began during the summer after the Indiana Department of Child Services contacted law enforcement following an incident in which Kerschner brought his unresponsive daughter to a hospital.
The infant was later transferred to a children’s hospital, where medical staff monitored her for two brain bleeds, according to court documents reported by a local news outlet.
How the Investigation Began
The Greenfield Police Department began investigating after receiving information from the Department of Child Services about the infant’s injuries.
According to court documents, Kerschner initially told investigators that he had picked up his daughter after she woke from a nap. He claimed he tripped over a couch while carrying her, causing both of them to land on the couch.
Kerschner reportedly said he later realized the baby was not moving.
However, investigators obtained additional details during a follow-up interview, in which the father allegedly provided a more extensive account of the events leading up to the hospitalization.
Authorities said the medical findings raised concerns because the infant’s injuries were not consistent with a fall but instead indicated inflicted trauma.
Father Allegedly Gave Investigators a Different Timeline
During the follow-up interview, Kerschner reportedly said his daughter woke from a nap at around 11:30 a.m. and seemed “different.” He allegedly described her as screaming more frequently than usual.
According to the court documents, the baby was put to bed after dinner at approximately 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. She reportedly woke up crying about an hour later.
Kerschner said he picked her up and asked why she was crying before walking with her in his hands and tripping onto the couch.
After the incident, he reportedly informed a relative about what had happened and took the infant to the hospital.
Investigators also learned about concerns regarding how Kerschner behaved when frustrated. One relative allegedly told authorities that he could become “loud and aggressive” and pick up the baby “a little quicker and freaks out a little bit.”
When a Department of Child Services caseworker asked whether he might have picked up the infant too quickly, Kerschner reportedly acknowledged that it was a “possibility.”
Investigators Cite Multiple Brain Bleeds and Hemorrhages
Medical findings became a central part of the investigation.
According to law enforcement, the infant suffered several brain bleeds and hemorrhages described as “too numerous to count.” Authorities said the injuries were inconsistent with the fall Kerschner initially described.
During later questioning, Kerschner allegedly acknowledged that the injuries “had to have” resulted from him shaking the baby when he was stressed.
Court documents also describe his account of discovering that the child was unresponsive. Kerschner reportedly said he noticed the infant was not moving while changing her diaper.
He then contacted a relative and began to panic. When he tried to place the girl in her car seat, he allegedly found that she was “limp.”
The baby was taken for medical treatment, and hospital staff monitored her serious injuries.
Father Allegedly Spoke About Struggling With the Baby’s Crying
Investigators also questioned Kerschner about the circumstances surrounding the incident and his response to the child’s crying.
According to the court documents, he said the television had been on while the baby was crying and described how hearing simultaneous sounds could nearly bring on a migraine.
He reportedly told investigators that he did not know what to do when his daughter was crying. Kerschner later allegedly accepted responsibility for the injuries during questioning.
“I mean, I hurt my daughter and I feel horrible about it,” Kerschner allegedly told police. “I just wish I was in a coma.”
The statements described in the court documents form part of the investigation into how the infant sustained her injuries. The allegations have not been established as a conviction in court.
Indiana Father Held Without Bond
Kerschner is charged with one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury, according to the Greenfield Police Department. He is being held without bond at the Hancock County Jail.
The case centers on the infant’s serious medical injuries, the differing accounts investigators say Kerschner provided and statements he allegedly made about shaking his daughter while under stress.
Authorities have not provided further details in the information available about the child’s current medical condition or long-term recovery.
The legal case will determine how the allegations are addressed through the court process.
What steps do you think can help prevent serious injuries to infants when caregivers become overwhelmed? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
