Wassaic man charged in daughter's death

WASSAIC — William Tate Jr., 29, of this hamlet, was arrested and charged in connection with the death of his 3-month-old daughter, Reese. The girl died from extensive internal injuries early last Thursday, Feb. 4, according to authorities.

The felony complaint gives details of the injuries to the baby, indicating there was “repeated blunt force trauma resulting in rib fracture, swelling of the brain, multiple contusions and internal injuries including avulsion of the bowel from the stomach.�

Investigators from the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office would not comment on exactly what happened the night of Feb. 3, when Tate was home alone caring for his daughter, who was the only child in the Tate household.

“We’re still trying to sort out what happened, and working that end of it,� said Detective Sgt.Patrick Whelan.

He said Reese was brought to Sharon Hospital at approximately 10 p.m. by her mother, Robin Tate, 29.

Robin and William Tate have been married for three years, Whelan said, and were living together, but the mother was not at home at the time when police believe Reese received blunt force trauma. They said a weapon had not been used.

“The mother saw the child was in distress, maybe had a breathing problem, and brought her to the hospital,� Whelan said. “She was not home at the time of the incident.�

Whelan added that the police did not believe the mother had any indication of what had happened, and that Tate had acted alone.

The detective explained it was protocol for emergency room personnel to report on a baby arriving with serious injuries.

Poughkeepsie’s Child Advocacy Center was contacted and Dutchess County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene. Tate did not accompany his wife and daughter to the hospital, but he  was present when investigators arrived at Sharon Hospital.

Tate was subsequently charged with one count of murder in the second degree, under the depraved indifference section.

“The father acted in such a way that he should have known his actions could have caused serious injuries or death, which is what occurred,� Whelan said in explanation of the depraved indifference charge.

Tate was arrested the morning of Feb. 5 and arraigned before Amenia Town Justice Norman Moore before being remanded without bail to the Dutchess County Jail. He was to appear again in county court Wednesday, Feb. 10, after this paper’s deadline.

Investigators said that Tate, who does not have any active files with law enforcement, was cooperating with the investigation and has offered an explanation, but police said they were not at liberty to discuss what he told the sheriff’s office.