The victim of the aggravated child abuse, Keegan Andrew Metz, a 23-months-old boy, died yesterday at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital as a result of his injuries.
Joshua Ryan Starner, who over the weekend was with aggravated child abuse with a bond of $1,000,000, remains in the Montgomery County Jail and now faces a charge of murder in the death of this child. Homicide charges are expected to follow.
Starner (W/M), 21, of 100-D Ballygar Street, Clarksville, was initially charged with aggravated child abuse with a bond set at $1,000,000. Starner is reportedly a soldier stationed at Fort Campbell.
On February 7, at 12:45 p.m. Clarksville police officers responded to a ambulance call about an unresponsive two-year-old at 100-D Ballygar Street. An investigation was opened due to the nature of the 23-month-old’s injuries.
The investigation showed that when the child’s mother left to go to the store, the child was healthy. When she returned approximately two hours later, the child was in the bed unresponsive.
A call was made to 911 was called and the child was transported by EMS to Gateway Hospital. He was then transported by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital.
Medical personnel at Vanderbilt advised that the child has severe trauma to the forehead, bad tearing of the anus, and bruises in various locations on the body. The child’s brain is swelling and his prognosis is not good. The child is in critical condition.
The investigation is ongoing. The lead investigator is Detective Alan Charvis, 931-648-0656, ext 4013 or or acharvis@clarksvillepd.org. If you have any information about this case please contact Detective Charvis.
You may also, anonymously call the TIPSLINE at 645-8477.
just wow…
There is no excuse for what this man has done to this baby. This child’s mother trusted him to care for her baby while she went to the store and what does he do? Violate that child in ways that are unspeakable and in my opinion he deserves the same he did to that child and worse and on top of it he is supposed to be a soldier?? He disgusts me. My prayers are with the mom and the little boy.
I am appauled at the acions of this kid Joshua, this is totaly inexusable and should be punished by the full extent of the civil law, and then once this is finished to be further punished under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. There is no excuse what so ever for something like this to happen, and I will guarantee that this is not the first time that this punk kid abused this child, you wait and see, it will come out that several people within the family and even communinity was aware of the abuse. A true embarrasment to the community, military and even society as a whole.
I have dedicated a myspace to this little boy. I have been follwing this story since it happened. He will always be in my heart. Even though I didnt know this little boy I feel like I do. If you are his mom and you read this you are in my prayers.
cassie i would love to pay honor to this little child please send me the link to your myspace account.
thanks,
lovinggabriel
RIP Keegan! I’ve known the mother since the 1st grade and I know that she loved Keegan with all of her heart! Please send me the myspace link so that I could let his Mother know.
You will be missed sweetie!
cassie i would love to get that link to the myspace you put in keegans name. Thank you soo much.