Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- An Eagle Mountain father, 35, has been arrested for allegedly abusing his 2-month-old twins.
- Police say one twin sustained life-threatening injuries, while the other has broken ribs.
- Brandon Lee Pitcher allegedly said he becomes frustrated when the twins cry.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN — An Eagle Mountain father has been arrested and accused of abusing his 2-month-old twins, leaving one with life-threatening injuries.
Brandon Lee Pitcher, 35, was booked into the Utah County Jail on Wednesday for investigation of two counts of aggravated child abuse.
The investigation began about 4 p.m. when police were notified that a 2-month-old girl had been transferred by medical helicopter to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City from the hospital's Lehi facility "due to the fact that the injury was beyond the scope of the abilities of PCH Lehi," a police booking affidavit states.
While en route, authorities were notified that the injuries, which included a brain bleed, were "extremely severe" and doctors were instructed to check the infant's twin brother, according to the affidavit.
At the hospital, doctors determined that the girl's condition was "so traumatic and severe" that "if the 2-month-old baby girl does not die from these injuries, the baby girl's life will be drastically altered and that the baby girl will not be the same person she otherwise would have been," according to the arrest report, which also noted the girl may "succumb to her life-threatening injuries, which is an immediate possibility."
When the girl's twin brother was brought to the hospital, he "underwent a skeletal exam, where it was learned that the baby boy had suffered two broken ribs, which were in a state of healing," the affidavit states.
Pitcher admitted that the injuries to both infants are "100% my fault," the affidavit alleges. Utah County sheriff's deputies learned that Pitcher becomes "agitated" when the babies cry and was again frustrated with the girl's crying on Tuesday.
"Brandon explained his state of frustration being sufficiently high that he, 'only wanted (her) to stop the crying.' Brandon explained that when his level of frustration is sufficiently high, he 'snaps' and is overcome by his anger. Brandon stated numerous times during this interview that, 'I feel like all of this is my fault,'" the affidavit states.
"In further explanation, Brandon stated that he threw the 2-month-old baby girl over his shoulder 'like a sack of potatoes' and that the baby girl's head 'thumped' on his back upon striking," the arrest report says.
Deputies have requested that Pitcher be held in the Utah County Jail until formal charges are filed, noting that his "uncontrollable instances of rage" pose a safety risk to his family.
