A Monroe County man has been charged with homicide in the death of his 3-month-old baby, after an autopsy showed blunt force injuries to the head.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Pennsylvania State Police Stroudsburg barracks in the case against Michael Yard:

At 5:34 p.m. Aug. 1, police was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Pinewood Drive South, Middle Smithfield Township, for a report of a 3-month-old boy who was non- responsive. His father, Yard, 32, of East Stroudsburg, was conducting CPR as the call was dispatched.

Bushkill Emergency Medical personnel were on site to treat the baby.

The baby was pronounced dead at The Lehigh Valley Hospital, Pocono Campus Emergency Room at 6:40 p.m.

Police interviewed Yard and the victim’s mother that night.

The victim’s mother said the baby was acting normal the morning of this incident, as she fed the child formula and played with him before leaving for work at 2:15 p.m.

Yard said after his wife left, he stayed in the master bedroom with the victim, and was playing video games while caring for the baby.

Yard said that he fed the baby, burped him, and the victim fell asleep in his arms. He told police he placed the victim on the bed, on his stomach, with his head turned to his left, toward the doorway, and that he placed two pillows on either side of the baby to prevent the child from rolling.

While the baby slept on the bed, Yard said he went to use the bathroom just outside the master bedroom, and returned to the bedroom after 10-15 minutes. Yard said when he returned the baby was not breathing. He began cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

An autopsy on Aug. 2 was conducted at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest.

The report, completed on Feb. 17, determined that the baby died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head.

The findings showing trauma to the head included acute hemorrhages to the intradural and epidural surfaces of the left side, cerebral edema, as well as microscopic evidence of trauma to the victim’s brain. Additionally, the child had suffered fractures to the left lateral, third, fourth and fifth ribs, which were two to three weeks old.

FYard gave no explanation for the traumatic injuries.

Yard faces charges of criminal homicide; endangering welfare of children; and aggravated assault.

He is currently incarcerated in the Monroe County Prison, with a request for bail denied, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing April 20 before District Judge Daniel Kresge of Stroudsburg.