Inset: Noah Humphus (Cole County Jail). Background: The home in the 300 block of East Ashley Street in Jefferson City, Mo., where Humphus allegedly abused his infant daughter (Google Maps).
A baby girl suffered several injuries throughout her body that were inflicted by her father who would shake her twice a day and swing her upside down by her legs so he could 'toughen' her up, Missouri cops say.
Noah Humphus, 23, stands accused of child abuse with physical injury and child endangerment.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, the Jefferson City Police Department began investigating Wednesday when the girl was taken to a hospital.
Doctors told cops the girl's injuries were consistent with child abuse. She had bruising on her face and torso as well as rib fractures and a broken femur. It appeared the girl had been shaken, cops said.
The injuries appeared to be in various stages of healing, doctors noted.
The girl's mother, in an interview with police, said Humphus watches the baby while she's at work. She said she's seen the defendant shake their daughter at least twice a day at their home in the 300 block of East Ashley Street. The mother is identified as Witness 2 in the affidavit.
"Witness 2 said the defendant has articulated reasoning for doing so because that is how to 'toughen' children," cops wrote. "Witness 2 said the defendant has also offered reasoning that it is normal 'to be rougher' with children."
Post Miranda, Humphus admitted to shaking his baby on multiple occasions and "did not dispute" that he did so when she was crying and he was frustrated. He estimated he abused the child 10 to 20 times, per the affidavit. Humphus demonstrated his actions against his daughter on a doll.
He showed how he would allegedly hold the baby upside down and swing her by her legs, which is what likely caused the broken femur.
Humphus was arrested and taken to the Cole County Jail, where he is being held without bond. He is set to appear in court on Wednesday.