Detective: Dad shook, squeezed baby son

NORTON SHORES, Mich. (WOOD) - A warrant authorization affidavit reveals a father accused in his infant son's death admitted to hurting the child.

Anthony Casanova of Norton Shores was arraigned Monday on an open murder charge in the Friday death of his 10-week-old son Tyler Casanova. He was denied bond.

In an affidavit given before Magistrate Michael VanEpps Monday, a detective said that Casanova admitted to violently shaking the baby, and then throwing him down onto the bed after twice bear-hugging him until he stopped breathing.

Preliminary findings showed Tyler had multiple broken ribs and that he had previously sustained broken ribs which had already healed.

Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson told 24 Hour News 8 Monday Casanova initially said he had tripped while holding the baby and dropped him, but that evidence indicated that was not true.

Casanova's defense attorney Terry Nolan told 24 Hour News 8 Tuesday that he has not yet read the affidavit.

"I admit admissions are very damaging," Nolan said of the court records. "It is an open murder charge, too. There are varying degrees of homicide."

Nolan also pointed out his client is still in shock and has had a fairly clean criminal record before this accusation.

Nolan said Casanova, 40, has had added stress in his life recently: He went from having no children two years ago to having five. He and his ex-wife adopted twins and his girlfriend has two children of her own. Then he and his girlfriend had this 10-week-old.

Friends and neighbors said Monday they are "shocked" that he is being accused of his son's murder.

Final autopsy results are still pending.

Casanova is expected back in court next week.