Police: Butler County man accused of abusing 2-month-old son causing head trauma

BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio (WXIX) - A Butler County man is under arrest after detectives responded to Children’s Hospital for a case of possible child abuse, the police report said.

Police wrote in the report that the father of the infant, Paul Jordan Rethamel, 29, was arrested at the hospital for felonious assault and domestic violence.

“Before arrival, dispatch advised that the 2-month-old child had head trauma from potential abuse from the father,” Officer Tyler Marling wrote. “Dispatch later advised that the child was being taken into emergency surgery.”

A mandated reporter at the hospital told Officer Marling that she spoke with the infant’s mother, Amanda Wine.

“Amanda advised (the mandated reporter) that there have been multiple domestic violence reports between her and Paul,” Marling wrote.

According to the police report, Amanda was supposed to go to Florida on Oct. 21, “but had a bad feeling about leaving her son with the father alone.”

The mandated reporter told Officer Marling this was the first time Rethamel would be watching the 2-month-old alone.

Detectives with the West Chester Police Department arrived at the hospital and interviewed the infant’s mother and father.

The report says the detectives told Rethamel was going to be arrested for domestic violence and felonious assault.

At a hearing Tuesday, the judge increased Rethamel’s bond from $200,000 to $500,000 after hearing emotional testimony from the infant’s mother.

Rethamel remains at the Butler County Jail.

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