BEATRICE – An arrest affidavit in the investigation of an infant child who died indicates the four-month-old child encountered by police and EMS personnel early the afternoon of August 15th, appeared to have “a lot of visible bruising”.   The child was taken to Beatrice Community Hospital and pronounced dead.

Two people are in custody in alleged connection with the death…..Austin Meyn and Ashlen Zitek.   Both face felony charges of child abuse resulting in a death.

Monday, bond was set for Zitek in Gage County Court at $250,000.   Gage County Judge Jeff Gaertig set a $1 million appearance bond for Meyn during a Wednesday Court hearing.  The bond was requested by Deputy Gage County Attorney Braden Dvorak, who said Meyn is a flight risk.  Dvorak said Meyn had been released from a prison term about a year ago, spent time in California, and had returned to Nebraska two days before the death of the infant occurred.

Defense lawyer Tim Noerrlinger asked that a lower bond be set because Meyn has significant ties to the Beatrice area and no means by which to leave the area. Meyn would have to post ten percent of the bond amount, to gain his release.  He now faces a hearing on September 27th (11:30 a.m.), to inform the court if he wants a preliminary hearing on the charges.

Meyn, according to the affidavit, had been at home watching the infant and another two-year-old child…and had told Zitek who was at her place of work, that he tried to wake up the infant, but it wasn’t working.   When she arrived home, she began CPR on the infant. 

Police questioned Meyn following the response to the home in northwest Beatrice.   An autopsy was later conducted and police said preliminary findings indicated the four-month old male infant had sustained “non-accidental trauma”….including hemorrhaging in the head and broken ribs.  Police said the injuries appeared consistent with shaken baby syndrome. 

Authorities obtained a search warrant and police recovered phone messages between Meyn and Zitel during the morning hours of August 15th, indicating that Meyn had been frustrated with the child because of his crying.

The affidavit indicates the child was placed face-down on a mattress, allegedly to stop the child from crying.  The child later became unresponsive.