Alamogordo man accused of squeezing infant so hard he broke 3 of her ribs

ALAMOGORDO, New Mexico — A southern New Mexico man is facing charges after authorities say he squeezed his infant stepdaughter so hard he broke three of her ribs.

Jonathan Salcedo, 26, was arrested last week and charged with two felony counts of child abuse that results in great bodily harm, intentional or reckless, the Alamogordo Daily News reports.

According to court records, a four-month-old infant girl was brought into an Alamogordo emergency room suffering from multiple fractures to the right arm and ribs.

Salcedo told police “he was the one who did it” referencing the child’s fractured ribs, court records state.

Salcedo also told police he would get angry with the child because she would not stop crying and screaming, and that he would be upset because he was not able to sleep much due to work, court records said.

Court documents said Salcedo told police he would try to comfort the child and when that did not work, would then “wrap his arms around her rib cage area (like a bear hug) and squeeze her with all his strength out of frustration.”

Salcedo is being held without bail. It was not known if he had an attorney.