ARUNDEL, Maine — A York County boy who police say was critically injured by his father has died, police said Tuesday morning.
Ethan Henderson, who is 2½ months old, died shortly after midnight after being taken off life support at Maine Medical Center, Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said in a statement.
The death is being considered a homicide, McCausland said.
Gordon Collins-Faunce, 23, of Arundel was initially charged with aggravated assault of a child under the age of 6 after the boy was found in his home with serious injuries.
McCausland said that charge is likely to be upgraded by the attorney general’s office pending a review of the case. That decision could come later Tuesday, McCausland added.
Collins-Faunce is being held on a $100,000 bond after a court appearance Monday. He entered no plea. It was unclear whether he had retained a lawyer.
Henderson — who lived with Collins-Faunce and his mother, Christina Henderson, 23 — was found unresponsive at his Limerick Road home by other family members, McCausland said. He initially was taken to Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford before being transferred to Portland.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services removed two other children from the house, McCausland said, including the boy’s twin brother.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Absolutely NO excuse for this!!!
Turns my stomach!!!!
this just makes me sick! (:0/
Put him in the general population at the jail.
That’s probably the best punishment for anyone who hurts kids.
If he is found guilty he should never again be a free man.
This baby didn’t deserve such an atrocious thing to be done to him. Breaks my heart!
EVERYBODY PRAY HARD THAT THIS LITTLE BOY MAKES IT.
He didn’t.
Bless his innocent little heart. With a head injury, who knows what permanent damage may have been done even if he does live.
And now we wait for his attorney to claim that it was all an “accident”, or that his client should be found not guilty by reason of insanity.
I say ship him off to the Supermax and force him to wear a t-shirt that says “I beat my 2 1/2 month old son”.
What a brave man he is to stand up to a infant 75+/- days old. Are we to be denied a picture of this pillar of society?
You can see his mug on Facebook.
I have 3 close friends all work in the juvenile and adult correctional systems..the “justice” is rare.
The justice is, apparently, “Rare-ly Reported” because even your three close friends don’t acknowledge it.
whatever gets you to sleep at night. This guy will not come close to getting what he deserves..
I used to know it all, too…then I grew up.
Ha, ha, ha, I use to, too, but then the next generation came along and pointed out I didn’t know anything.
Something tells me you still haven’t grown up…
And that “something” would Be?…. That my opinion differs from yours? Laughable.
and it should be. This is a civilized country and NO ONE should be sexually violated ever.
I am old enough to recall never having to lock my doors … car, house, etc. But I do in this “civilized country” these days. I’m guessing (because I’ve never been in prison) that a certain amount of “justice” is doled out more than the general public knows in the big house(s).
“This is a civilized country”
-Hardly. This country used to be civilized. A time when folks were polite, responsible and believed in accountability. A time when neighbor helped neighbor and morality and decorum were at the forefront.
Fast forward to now… Americans have become less civilized, more rude, entitled, arrogant and selfish. No personal accountability is the norm and a gimmie gimmie gimmie attitude…civilized country my @55…
I love how someone rants about his dismay over the loss of civilization and swears at the end of it.
I love how ad hominem is used to discredit my argument instead of facts.. I’m not the one claiming we live in a civilized country. I just said we don’t.
Civility, like everything else, begins at home.
I thought y’all were about personal responsibility.
how does personal responsibility come into play here? Am I not taking responsibility for something?
I guess I have to spell it out for you: If you want a more civilized society, the only way to do it is to be civil yourself. Politeness generally begets politeness and the opposite is true as well.
You don’t have to spell out anything. “Politeness” isn’t the only component of a civilized society, and is a relative term.
I’ve spent every hour of every day with my 1 year old. I think I’ve been away from him for no longer than 4 hours and that was twice. Not once did his crying or his new and fun tantrums get me even remotely upset. To think, that poor baby Ethan at 2.5 months only needs basic necessities and comfort…he doesn’t even want anything yet…gets treated that way…it makes me sad. It makes me hold my children just that much closer. The saddest part is that when he gets out of prison, he can have another child…there is no justice hard enough that can give that man what he deserves.
I have to say that I agree with you!!! And you are correct, when he does get out of prison he is free to have more children!! There should be a law set that if convicted of child abuse (in any form) the person should be fixed so that they can never have children again!!
yes but even if “he” can’t father another child, he can always hook up with a woman with children from previous marriages or relationships. How many of these horrific stories do we hear where the boyfriend of the mother has battered or killed her child? It’s just sickening to think of how many child victims of this kind of violence and battery there are in this state…this country really. Children not even safe in their own homes.
What’s worse, there are those poor women that have such low self-esteem that would put their children at risk like this. I agree with you LDR. It’s a conundrum. Hold your children close and tell them you love them. The more people to do that, the better the world would be.
That’s because in our new world…we find someone we move in the next day…or have them stay over night on the 2nd date…without truly knowing the person. Just move them in to fit the adult’s immediate need…never mind about the kids…selfish society we live in. Very selfish.
I wish there was a solution…
electric chair?
Tougher penalties…our system is a joke sometimes….slap on the hands and they are right back out there doing the crime again.
he got fixed after he had twins…
he better have gotten fixed
nah get him fixed and chop off his hands itd be hard to beat up anyone or thing with no hands f’n basterd
*note spelling wasnt sure if it would post or not if i wrote it right!
I’m with you on this one Jaymee. Oh and then cut off his damned feet so he could never walk again. That little boy will never know what its like to walk, run, play ball, or dance with a girl.He will never wait at the alter for a beauitful girl to walk to him. This piece of crap took it all away. I am very sad for this baby, I was sad last night and the night before that for him. This should not have happend,should never happen to any child. Rest in peace little baby. You are back with the Lord and he will never let anyone hurt you again.
Not meaning to be rude, but why did your Lord let this happen in the first place?
You know you meant to be rude. Why take an incident about a baby’s death to question someone’s belief in God? What purpose did your reply serve. Pegton made a heartfelt comment. You took an opportunity to take a jab at people who believe. You have the right to not believe or even to believe in the existence of a supreme being, but do not tell anyone you were not trying to be rude. You, Joan, were much more than rude.
===
Read the post I wrote to Pegton regarding free will. The murderer of the child had free will to choose to do right or wrong, or so those who are religious believe. He chose to be a murderer–not that he set out to be one, but who would not know that he was severely injuring a baby by his actions that beat that baby. Believers realize that God does not stand in the way of free will.
Questioning the poster’s beliefs or any aspect of how they changed from wanting justice/revenge and then to speaking of wanting the baby to be back with the Lord is not for you or I to judge, nor was it for anyone to question someone else’s belief in a supreme being.
Too often posters forget the article and begin a tirade against someone else. Some forget that each of us has perceptions based upon our own life experiences which guide our comments. Right now I feel as if we are off topic but, since you are hell bent on judging and calling people hypocritical, you are entitled to an explanation. Is it really hypocritical to want this degenerate punished severely and hope that a child is in heaven? or that the Lord will now keep this child safe from harm? People write their feelings in hope that others will not criticize or find anything for which to judge them or call them names like “hypocritical”.
Sad, isn’t it that too many are so quick to judge someone else’s comments. Better to vent a little rage against the killer—who deserves to be punished severely.
I am not religious by any means but who cares if these people believe in a Lord? I mean theres so many things that you can say if there is a lord then why did he let that and this happen look at baby Ayla, or the girl that got killed in florida or even the world trade center come on things just happen if these people think there is a Lord let them be! I believe that things happen like this cause it was their time to go. I hope this comes out right i do not mean any negative towards anyone
Pegton, I took the opportunity to reply for you to Joan Small with her comment about God. Believers cannot know why this world is as it is, but do believe that they are given free will which somewhat can explain the actions of this degenerate who killed his own flesh and blood. Whether or not a person believes in God is their own decision. Joan took an opportunity to get away from the subject which is a sick child abuser now murderer and question your belief in God.
My comment to her follows:
You know you meant to be rude. Why take an incident about a baby’s death
to question someone’s belief in God? What purpose did your reply serve.
Pegton made a heartfelt comment. You took an opportunity to take a jab
at people who believe. You have the right to not believe or even to
believe in the existence of a supreme being, but do not tell anyone you
were not trying to be rude. You, Joan, were much more than rude.
Thank you Gambler16. I did say he should be hurt and I guess thats wrong. The LORD will take care of that. I’m sorry if I offended anyone. That was not my intent. I said what I did as that is what I believe. I don’t know where the Lord was that day. I don’t know where he was the day of
9/11/2001. I don’t know where he was the day my sixteen yr old nephew died in a car. I don’t know about alot of things. I just know that I get real tired of people hurting children. It makes me sick and it makes me MAD ! Not angry, just plan MAD. So, the next time I post on here, I will try and remember to leave the Lord out of it. Again,thank you gambler, and again, Sorry if I offend anyone with the talk about MY Lord. He is in my heart and sometimes its hard not to bring him into things.
Prison! ….. Bring back the death penalty. These individuals can not be rehabilitated. Don’t waste our taxes, don’t waste medical benefits that can be used for others. I might be one sided but I can’t see any hope in these situations. In this State, and it may be in others also, abuse is extremely prevelant.
The death penalty is never coming back to the state of Maine.
You are right. Babies cry because it is the only way they can communicate. It makes me so sad that this little guy had to know pain at the hands of the person who was supposed to protect him. Poor sweet baby.
and if u cut his nuts so he can never make a child they claim his rights were taken away,if u mollest a child guess what should be cut off if u beat a child then u should lose ur right to reproduce plus they should be tattoo’d so people will know of their crime’s and a woman will know not to get involved and start a family with them,but it betrays their rights and the childern and people they hurt has no right to live happily or live at all.the justice system is tooo weak
What on God’s green earth could an infant of TWO AND A HALF MONTHS AGE ever do that would incur the physical wrath of a grown man?? Honestly- what the hell is wrong with people these days?!?
It’s for sure that a whole lot of people are not fit in any way to be a parent!!
And they are the ones having all the kids!!!!!!! Its sick that people that would make amazing parents cant have kids, and sick people such as this man can have all the kids they want.
I just don’t understand why people think they have to do this to innocent children!! Makes me sick to my stomach to think that there are so many of these people in the world today!!! I pray that this poor baby pulls through this!!! And I pray that the State of Maine gives this sick, sorry excuse for a person the worst possible sentence!!
Just let him ROT in Jail.
According to Facebook, this little precious baby is a twin. How sad for this sibling:( I am praying hard he makes it BUT also does not get returned to family. This little baby needs to be adopted by a loving family.
Maybe a diaper change, a little food or a burbing would stop the baby crying, even felt a little love from daddy-o or maybe the baby knew the guy is evil and was crying for help………
Glory be .. What is happening to mankind are they self distrusting or what
So much anger.. no self control ..
This boy needs a dose of reality, put him in general pop and walk away!
I hope the boy makes out OK. The justice system can only give the father 10 years for the assault no matter what long term effects this child suffers and even in the most severe cases they get no where near that. The legislature sees no need to increase this or make it a more serious crime, I have asked several to do so. Call your local legislature up and ask them to make the laws for these crimes have some substance to them. It is a tragedy for the child and family, but the laws are written like it is a simple crime.
Stick him in a cell with Maine’s most famous serial killer James Hickey. The little boy (23 years old) that likes to beat on little boys, needs a spanking. He probably will not survive, but that’s ok too.
stick him with charles manson
When we have zero expectations for our children and those rearing the children, this is what we get. This man is useless and worthless but we will keep him well at any cost for the rest of his miserable life. Sad.
Gordon and Justin must be friends.
This Loser is posting on his Facebook Page from Jail..wow…
I seriously doubt he has access to a computer right now.
He was posting on facebook a few hours ago “20 min time limit on computer, other inmates waiting to use it. i doing ok.”. Nice to know that baby beaters can keep in touch with their facebook pals even in jail.
his facebook page says i know you fools….is ethan dead?
Makes me sick just to even think that someone would even do something like this to a child. Why are people like this even able to have children in the first place and why didn’t the mother do anything about this instead of sitting back and watching him do it. Guess she is just as sick.
Where does it say the mother sat back and watched or was even there at the time?
these were all interesting to read, and to add my two cents: I think this Man never deserves children around him again- or how about we make him helpless and kick his butt into grave condition? I do not like violence- but sometimes for the right people it seems perfect…
I agree with you that violence isn’t ever the answer but I would chip in my salary to watch!
I agree
I guess, instead of wishing more tragedy for the father and his family, I am going to pray for all concerned, especially little Ethan, that he can survive his injuries. I have no idea what could have happened to make a guy go off on a 10 week old boy, but I do believe having three very small children at his age is undoubtedly very stressful. That does not excuse his behavior, I realize, but instead of damning him to the deepest recess of he**, I think we should all be more aware of situations in our own backyards where maybe we could offer to be of help.
The father created his own tragedy. He gets no sympathy from me. I had my 2 sons at his age and never found them stressful. In fact, I usually intentionally had 3 or 4 extra kids at my house all the time. As heartless as this sounds, if people find children to be stressful, perhaps they shouldn’t have them to begin with.
When stories like this occur, I think that the DHHS records of the alleged perpetrator should become available to the public. I’m curious to know how many people expressed concern about this man and these kids and what DHHS did with that information prior to this incident. I’m not saying that the State is responsible for protecting all children all of the time, but it would be very interesting to know if there was a breakdown in the system here.
Perhaps the BDN editors would consider dedicating some resources to investigate the changes that have taken place within the child welfare system over the past few years and determine whether or not those changes have led to an increase in child abuse reports. I feel like I’ve been reading a lot about injured kids over the past few years.
DHHS can only respond to reports that people make. They don’t magically know when kids are being abused within a household. Often when reports are finally made, the abuse has been going on for sometime. Plus, if this person didn’t have a history of abusing children, which he very well may not have, there may not have been any reason to be involved with this family. DHHS records are extremely confidential and they would never release this information anyway.
I’m not suggesting that DHHS develop magic techniques. I am suggesting that it is time for an extensive review of its practices, including its involvement in specific cases, to determine whether or not more kids are being left in dangerous situation.
The father should be in a grave!!
Scum
He’s a veteran. Please pray for this family.
So what if he’s a veteran. It doesn’t give him the right to kill an innocent child!!
Written yesterday, but still stands. We screw up our young people then blame them for their mental state. So sorry to hear the sad results of this attack on an innocent one.
How does that reflect on the veterans who refrain from murdering their infant children? Are you attempting to state: veterans murder their infant children????Stop making excuses for people who do bad things!
I made no excuses, save your breath and strength for real rather than imaginary battles.
I don’t think he’s made that claim.
Such a crap excuse! Come on, really?????
My husband & I are both veterans and we’ve managed to NOT kill any of our children. War is hell, I’ll admit that, but there is NEVER a reason to attack an innocent child. No excuses. If he is a true veteran, he’ll man up and accept the punishment he deserves.
If you’re trying to glorify veterans, it isn’t working here.
I am trying to understand how someone can unleash extreme violence on an innocent child. Glorifying veterans is not my thing. Individuals will be judged for their actions. Nowhere did I say there should be no punishment for criminal behavior. So you all can quit projecting your own beliefs onto me now.
OK, I’ll admit it was just a stab in the dark, but I still don’t understand why you mentioned he’s a veteran.
hes not a veteran and does not deserve to be called one. he never actually served. he was dishonorably discharged because he decided it would be fun to go AWOL during bootcamp/basic training to go get laid.
pathetic excuse for a person. NOT a father, NOT a man, and NOT a veteran.
Is that true about the dd? How do you know?
sadly, it is true. he told me himself back when we hung out and talked. im not admitting that he is a “friend” now.
Well, any veteran knows that a dishonorable discharge is really the supreme disgrace. They don’t give those away lightly! So if this guy is convicted, I predict it will go very hard for him. If honorable military service is a plus factor at sentencing, a dd is a 10X minus factor. I hope the sentencing judge is a veteran.
I agree with you completely. I will now be praying that the judge is a veteran.
Guillotine
arrest…try…convict…and then let me take my best shot at punishing him.
I’d really like to help, probably along with thousands of other people!
Dhhs how many reports or neglect were there and no action was taken with this family before the twins were born? So sad
That’s a good question, but I don’t know if we’ll ever know. The information may be insulated by DHHS confidentiality.
http://560wgan.com/Injured-Infant-Dies/13063779
MA-NE.net: Baby taken off life support, dies…
I am so sad to learn that Ethan has died. The sperm donor that contributed to Ethan’s creation and death is well on his way to hell.
And I get the dumb question of why don’t I use a babysitter once in awhile.. UMM for this very reason.. My boys are with me day and night, never apart unless they are at school. This little one did not ask to be brought into this world let alone be taken out of this world by someone who is suppose to provide unconditional love, support and care.. Sick Bastard! Maybe the bigger dogs in the clink will get a hold of you and shake you till your on deaths door. Rip Ethan, fly high with the Angels, you now live in Paradise where you will know nothing by love and happiness!
He wasn’t a babysitter, he was the child’s father!
yup he was and to me this is worse. This could and has happened by the hands of others to many times. if you read the 4th sentence down you will see I said by someone who was suppose to unconditionally love support and care……………………. A child should be safe with their parents.
As someone who wanted a child, but could not have them, this breaks my heart. I’d have loved to have this baby, if you can’t stand the crying give them to someone who can.
When did we become a society that no longer protected our children but became the people our children needed protection from? I’ll tell you when:when we became a society dependent on drugs & being lazy! Everyone wants everything handed to them for nothing. We became a society of letting people away with everything due to a disorder or other disability! Is this father on drugs or does he just have no patience? Where was the mother? So many questions that will never get answered! This is horrible! RIP Lil Ethan!
Jesus, Cradle this baby in your arms and let him rest peaceful in your loving care.
Life in prison, no release, no excuse.
“The Maine Department of Health and Human Services removed two other
children from the house, McCausland said, including the boy’s twin
brother.”
If the father killed the boy, keep him in jail. Why should DHHS remove the others if the threat is already locked up??? just asking,.
Exactly! There is clearly something wrong with the mother too. DHHS has been there before. Also interesting that these 3 kids have the mothers last name and not their fathers. Most likely in an effort to screw the system. I pray the other two children are adopted into a loving family, NOT A RELATIVE either.
The glory of unwed parenthood.
—
Yes, and these violent punishment scenarios alway flourish in newspaper comments after a child has been beaten to death. I think a lot of it has to do with the internet disinhibition effect.
Yet so many people are unhappy with LePage. These are the cases we need to stop. It is VERY OBVIOUS none of these children should have been in their parents custody.
It’s obvious now. I hope we get the rest of the story.
Noone knows with any certainty that the threat is already locked up. The mother might have been complicit in the death of her son…that’s for a court of law to decide. DHHS’ primary interest is in being as certain as possible under the circumstances that no harm comes to the other children in the household.
Excellent points. Mothers in these types of cases sometimes turn a blind eye to the risk, or worse.
If you can’t handle the stress of children, don’t have them. Poor little innocent baby….sad story. He definitely will get the same treatment he gave to his child. He’ll walk in with the attitude with his head held high and hopefully if he ever comes out, it’ll be hanging low.
If he is found guilty, and convicted. People in prison aren’t very fond of people that hurt/kill children. He has a LONG road ahead of him.
OMG when is this going to freakin end?????
take him outside put one behind his left ear.i’m sick of this killing a child what the hell is world coming too.
MA-NE.net: Father on Facebook…
That’s a natural and understandable reaction, but not one that you should post here.
he dont deserve jail or to live…..
Very sad and senseless. I hope this family can heal and I hope this “father” can get the help be seriously needs.
Hope the so called mother gets charged also with something, theres no excuse for a mother to not protect their offspring……
100% agree with you. DHHS worker who investigated this family many times before should also be FIRED!!!
Ethan you are in my thoughts and prayers today along with your brother and sister. May you always watch over them from above. To everyone who’s lives you have touched with a coo or a grin my deepest sympathies for your loss.
put him in general population??? how about a general grave site! capitol punishment! immediately,, why waste court time and tax dollars, maybe a public hanging would help spread the zero tolerance word! this pos has no right breathing our air!
Rest in peace little one- you deserved vastly better than you got here. I for one plan to hug my 9-year-old extra tonight. I will never, ever understand how anyone who can call himself “a man” could bring harm to his own precious child. Never.
Rest in Peace little angel <3
Is this total loser even the father? Article just reports that he happened to live with the child and mother
he is the father of the twin boys
But most likely the kids did not have his last name as a way to beat the system. Previous broken arm and the state took the other kids immediately. There will be a lot more to this story, Mommy seems just as guilty for being ignorant.
You need a license to drive a car, a license to carry a gun, a license to hunt, a license to fish. You need a license to be a professional in just about any field.
The most important thing anyone can do is be a parent.
But anyone can be a parent, no training required. No competence needs to be shown. No minimum intelligence requirements. No drug testing.
Yeah, we’re pretty smart, aren’t we.
As sad as it is, at least this poor little angel won’t have to suffer any more beatings by his father.If it didn’t happen today , it would have sooner or later. This jerk should have a tattoo on his forehead saying “I beat my child to death” and have to display it as long as his pathetic life lasts.
We should all take a moment to thank and pray for the EMTs, police officers, nurses, doctors, etc. who by no choice had to care for this little angel. Can you imagine what they are going through and what they saw? My heart breaks for each of them.
The baby’s injuries were grave enough to have him put on life support. Obviously, the child could not have even survived this long without the life support breathing for him. This sick man, who cannot call himself a father, deserves the same fate as the child. When I see the ad regarding domestic violence on TV, I wonder why it still takes place. Perhaps, no one sees that there is any just punishment for the abusers. Abuse of a child is one place where an eye for an eye may be the only justice and punishment that the abuser deserves. What he did to this baby should be done to him! In truth, he probably will never show any remorse for his actions and deserves no mercy.
Death penalty
To bad we can’t sentence to a prison outside the U.S. like Mexico or Russia. These countries know how to treat criminals. LIKE CRIMINALS!
My heart aches for that poor sweet baby. I will be cuddling my little girl and thanking God for her even more. All these cases of shaken babies lately makes me physically sick. My little girl cries and yes it can be really frustrating not knowing what is wrong but when I feel overwhelmed I put her back in her playpen or bassinet and walk away for a minute. Sure it sucks hearing her cry, sometimes really loudly, but it’s always better to walk away if you feel overwhelmed rather than to ever harm a baby!
That is soo sad. Keep this guy behind bars for life.
The people can pass laws, let have a death penalty in Maine
sounds like he needs to get a procedure done to prevent him from having any more children….no child deserves to be cursed with that kind of a father
Eye for an eye—this baby killer should suffer the same fate as his child. Maybe if degenerates knew what the punishment would be, domestic violence would end!
So sad :/ I feel for the other children who lost a brother…especially his twin. This so called young “man” should be dropped off in a desolate desert and left to suffer and shrivel to his death.
getting a vasectomy should be part of this mans punishment for sure….anyone who harms their own child like this should not be allowed to have another
Rest in peace sweet Ethan.
well my father used to tell me it was mean world out there he is 100% right