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Lawton prison guard facing murder charge in son's death

LAWTON, Okla. – A 22-year-old prison guard from Lawton was charged with second-degree murder Monday in connection with the death of his 2-year-old son.

Police say last Tuesday the boy was brought in to Fort Sill's Reynolds Hospital by his mother and her fiancé, Charles Weimer.  Weimer claimed the boy was in his care at their apartment when he fell down a flight of concrete stairs and became injured.

Police say Weimer claimed the boy's injuries from his fall led to his sudden death.  The boy died shortly after he arrived at the hospital.  But a medical examiner's report challenges his claims, after the M.E. found the boy's injuries were not consistent with Weimer's story.

"Attempts were made to revive the child and those attempts were unsuccessful and the child died," said Lawton Police Capt. Craig Akard.

Akard says the boy was in his mother's fiancé's care when he was injured at their apartment.  Weimer told police he rushed the boy to Fort Sill, where his mother worked, and from there they rushed the boy to the hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life threatening.

"The only visible injury he had at the time was a bump on his head," said Akard.

And Akard says, even though the boy was not alive to tell police what really happened, his body told the medical examiner a story different from Weimer's.

"In cases where people are injured and they may die from their injuries, the trauma that actually was sustained may not show up for a day or so or a few hours due to blood settling and bruising later showing up."

According to Weimer's attorney, he is not only a prison guard, but a former National Guardsman, ex-Missouri military policeman, and even served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2009; something Akard says is even more unsettling.

"Especially his family and friends, they probably hold him to a higher standard."

According to a court document, police believe Weimer hit the boy knowing he would suffer serious injury, but did not give any further details.  Weimer is being held on a $300,000 bond.  If he is found guilty of murder, he could face 10 years to life in prison.

The mother of the child is not currently facing any charges.  Weimer is due back in court in March.  Count on 7News to keep you updated.