City Times Staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS –A 33-year-old local man is being charged with first-degree reckless homicide in the February 2017 death of a 15-month-old child.

On Feb. 4, 2017, Wisconsin Rapids Police and Wisconsin Rapids EMS responded to a local address for an unresponsive 15–month-old child.

According to a press release by Detective Lieutenant Julie Buerger, the child’s father, identified as James W. Georgeson, was providing care for the child throughout the day and had contacted 911 after he discovered the child was unresponsive. The child was transferred to Aspirus Riverview Hospital and later to Saint Joseph’s hospital in Marshfield (Marshfield Clinic) where the child remained unresponsive. Suspicious injuries were immediately observed by initial responders and medical staff prompting a police investigation.

The 15–month-old child later died on Feb. 6th, 2017 and a forensic autopsy was performed in Dane County at the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office. Final autopsy results revealed the manner of death to be homicide and cause of death as multiple non-accidental blunt force injuries.

Georgeson was taken in to custody yesterday afternoon (Feb. 14) for the charge of first-degree reckless homicide. Georgeson will have an initial appearance in Wood County Circuit Court on Thursday.