‘Mean’ dad fractures all baby’s 4 limbs, then blames it on ‘rough diaper changes’

An Indiana father, 28-year-old Tristan Dean Gerhardt, was arrested this week on charges of physically abusing his 6-month-old child, who was hospitalized with fractures in both arms and legs. Gerhardt attributed the injuries to tight swaddling and “rough diaper changes.”

Gerhardt faces one count of felony domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury to a person under 14 and one count of felony neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to Westfield Police Department records, officers executed an arrest warrant for Gerhardt at his home on Scarlet Street on July 29, 2024, around 11:19 p.m.

The case began on May 1, 2024, when police responded to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital for a report of suspected child abuse. The infant had numerous injuries, including broken bones in both arms and legs, and scarring on the gums and lips, which doctors suggested was from something being forcibly inserted into the baby’s mouth.

Doctors identified the bone fractures as classic metaphyseal lesions (CMLs), which are often indicative of physical abuse caused by forceful yanking, pulling or jerking.

Gerhardt told police that the injuries might have resulted from tightly swaddling the baby and rough diaper changes.

However, doctors asserted that typical handling and even rough diaper changes would not account for such severe injuries.

“If a person changes an infant’s diaper in a way that breaks his legs because of the pulling/jerking they are doing; they may call this a ‘rough diaper change.’ I would call this abusive,” a doctor wrote in court documents.

A family member also reported to police that Gerhardt had displayed troubling behavior when caring for the infant, describing him as mean, short-tempered, and prone to yelling at the baby when the mother was not home.

After the incident, Gerhardt sent a concerning message to the victim’s mother, indicating previous interactions with child services and his fear of losing her and the baby. The child’s mother allegedly told investigators that Gerhardt cared for the child during the day because she works.

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Gerhardt appeared virtually for his initial hearing, where Magistrate Judge Gregory J. Garrison found probable cause for the arrest and set his bond at $150,000. With an omnibus hearing scheduled for October 7, 2024, he remains in the Hamilton County Detention Center.