Residents of a Pennsylvania community came together Friday to remember the abbreviated life of an infant who was killed this week at the hands of his father, Fox 29 reports.
“We have to do something for this mother and her family,” Stephanie Scancella told the television station. “It’s heart-wrenching.”
Scancella was among the community members of Bristol Borough at the vigil in honor of 4-month-old Timothy Sullivan, whom mourners referred to as “Baby Timothy.” Attendees prayed, lit candles and offered messages near the child’s home.
Meanwhile, donations are being sought for the boy’s mother, 22-year-old Madisen Neidlein.
“Her whole life has been completely turned upside down, and a small weight would be lifted off her shoulder if expenses were not another stress she has to worry about,” a GoFundMe page reads.
Baby Timothy’s father, 30-year-old Tyler Sullivan, is behind bars on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to LevittownNow.com.
On Wednesday, the boy was found unresponsive in Bristol Borough following a call to authorities reporting that a child was in cardiac arrest. Officers performed CPR and the boy was rushed to Lower Bucks Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A doctor identified multiple injuries on the child that included contusions, abrasions, and bruising consistent with child abuse, according to LevittownNow.com, citing court documents.
Sullivan is said to have admitted that he shook the baby violently in multiple instances; the father also claimed that the boy had bumped his head on objects in the home, which he said caused bruising on the child’s head and face, LevittownNow.com reports.
Neidlein and Sullivan are reportedly engaged.
“The community is heartbroken over this, I mean. It’s a small town, everybody knows everybody,” Scancella told the television station. “We all have been heartbroken about this mom losing her son, especially the way she did.”
Bristol Borough is located between Philadelphia and New York City near Trenton.
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[Feature Photo: Baby Timothy/GoFundMe]
