Gower Man Accused of Child Death Also Accused of Abusing Twin

GOWER, Mo. (AP) — A Gower man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his 5-month-old son.

Dillon Livingston also is charged with child abuse or neglect of a child in the February death. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond in Clinton County. A motion hearing is scheduled for Friday.

According to a probable cause statement, first responders found the boy unresponsive at Livingston’s home on Feb. 12. The child was suffering from several hemorrhages, bruises, and fractures, The St. Joseph News-Press reported.

Livingston was taking care of the child at the time. He initially told investigators the child rolled off a recliner, but he later said he handled the baby too forcefully when he became fussy, according to court documents.

Livingston also is accused of abusing the infant’s twin in November 2020 when the mother of the children was not home, according to court documents. He said he accidentally dropped the child.