Woodstock Man Accused Of 'Violently' Shaking, Hurting Baby

WOODSTOCK, IL — The Woodstock Police Department announced Monday a Woodstock man wanted for aggravated battery to an infant is now in custody, more than four months after the incident. According to police, 36-year-old Eric H. Hanstad, from the 1800 block of Sebastian Way, faces two counts of felony aggravated battery and one count of felony aggravated domestic battery stemming from a November 2019 incident at the same address. According to a news release from the police department, the Woodstock Fire and Rescue Department was called to a home in the 1800 block of Sebastian Way for a baby who had been dropped, and had stopped breathing. Police added that a department detective was also called to the home due to the nature of the report.

Police said that early in the investigation, authorities observed that the way the caller described what had happened to cause the baby's injuries didn't match their actual injuries. The baby was taken to Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, where evaluations showed that the baby had suffered from extensive head, eye and neck trauma, according to the news release. Police added that according to the opinion of medical personnel, the trauma caused to the baby was intentional, and many of the injuries were consistent with the baby being violently shaken.

Authorities interviewed those who were identified as having contact with the baby before the injuries were discovered, according to the news release. Police said the interviews and evidence led to Hanstad being identified as a suspect in the case, and the McHenry County State's Attorney's office approving the charges against him.

The most serious of the three charges, a Class X felony — aggravated battery — was due to accusations Hanstad knew and without legal justification committed battery to a child under the age of 13, causing great bodily harm, according to the news release.

Hanstad is being held at the McHenry County jail and his court date is listed by the sheriff's office as June 2, and his bond is listed as $50,000.