Afton Couple Arrested For Child Abuse Involving Their Infant Son

An Afton couple is in the Delaware County jail on a charge of child abuse by injury.

Christopher Tatroe, 21, and Nickole Patterson, 20, were arrested Wednesday following an investigation by the Delaware County Sheriff's Office.  The couple's 36-day-old son was admitted to a Tulsa hospital in March with broken bones and possible brain damage.

According to an affidavit for arrest, investigators were called to the hospital on March 22, 2012 to investigate at the request of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

The affidavit stated Patterson said they had spent the night at a friend's house in Tulsa and she was awakened by the sounds of her son screaming "bloody murder".

Patterson went into the living room and saw her friend holding the baby at arm's length away from her.

She said she took the baby, woke Tatroe and the couple left Tulsa.

The affidavit stated investigators also interviewed Christopher Tatroe's mother who said Tatroe is bipolar and has had violent episodes in the past.

Court records state the baby had a fractured right femur and wrist and a bruise on the forehead. With that report, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services took the baby into protective custody.

Tatroe and Patterson remain in the Delaware County jail on $100,000 bond each.

A court hearing is set for August 13, 2012.