First, Phillip G. Moeller explained away the grievous injuries of 4-year-old Tanner Geiger by telling police he was watching television when he heard a "thud" from the boy's room upstairs. When he went to check, Tanner "had a glazed look," Moeller told police.

Then, his story changed. This time, he was playing with Tanner, "log rolling" him onto the bed from his arms, when the child hit his head on the footboard and became unresponsive.Later, Moeller would tell his adult son, Justin Moeller, that he was "playing airplane" with Tanner, swinging him by his arms and legs when the boy fell onto the bed.Finally, Moeller admitted to police that he was "frustrated and upset" with Tanner, and did "something he regretted doing.""I might have been a little more forceful," Moeller told police. "I picked him up but I threw him a little harder."On Tuesday, Butler Township Police Chief Edward Tarantelli filed a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter against Moeller, 45, of Ashland, in Tanner's death.Moeller remains free on $25,000 percentage bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Aug. 19 before District Judge Christina E. Hale of Frackville.Moeller's girlfriend, Stephanie Stone, was Tanner's grandmother and his guardian. Moeller was caring for the boy in his 212 Carrie St. home while she was at work.According to an affidavit of probable cause, Tarantelli was dispatched to Moeller's house at 12:36 a.m. Oct. 9, 2013, to find Moeller trying to resuscitate the boy.He was airlifted to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he died six days later, on Oct. 15, 2013.A doctor there, Paul J. Bellino, suspected child abuse.An autopsy performed at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, revealed that Tanner died of blunt-force injuries. However, Dr. Sam Land, the pathologist who performed the autopsy, could not determine a manner of death.