Man viciously shakes, beats 2-month-old daughter, breaks 20 BONES, says he ‘snapped’ because she was crying

A Wisconsin man was sentenced this week on a child neglect conviction after severely beating his infant daughter, causing extensive physical injury and head trauma.

According to Fox News, Oshkosh resident Richard A. Root will serve six months in jail followed by seven years of probation in exchange for a plea related to the crime earlier this year.

He pleaded no contest to child neglect causing great bodily harm when he appeared in court in August, as WLUK reported at the time.

Police say the 2-month-old victim was admitted to the Aurora Medical Center emergency room in March with at least 20 broken bones, including nine of her ribs. She also reportedly suffered a broken leg and arm in the attack.

Officials say the violence caused other injuries, including bleeding in the infant’s brain.

The 21-year-old suspect reportedly confessed to police after his arrest, claiming he “snapped” in response to the demands of raising a baby. Her constant crying ultimately set him off on the day of the crime, he said.

According to court records, Root provided details of the criminal abuse he inflicted on his daughter. He said he began shaking her when she would not stop crying.

The abuse continued, including one incident during which he confessed to kneeling on one of his daughter’s legs as he changed her diaper.

As the Oshkosh Northwestern reported, Winnebago County Circuit Judge Thomas Gritton included in Root’s sentence that he abstain from drugs and alcohol and either maintain a job or full-time school attendance as he completes a counseling program during probation.

[Featured image: Richard A. Root/Winnebago County Jail]