Mar 6, 2007 By Josh Krysak 3 min read

A doctor who examined a 3-month-old Fayette County infant who died at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh Saturday said the baby’s injuries were a result of an “extremely violent assault.” Seanna Schrock of Lemont Furnace was pronounced dead at 10:10 a.m., according to officials with the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner.

Results of an autopsy conducted Monday were not revealed, and officials with the medical examiner’s office said the cause and manner of death remains pending further tests.

Schrock’s death came two days after allegedly being assaulted by her caretaker, James Ray Morrison, 27, of 202 Woodview Terrace, Uniontown, according to state police.

Morrison was initially charged before Magisterial District Judge Wendy Dennis Friday with aggravated assault, simple assault and endangering the welfare of children.

State police said further charges could be filed, pending further investigation.

According to trooper David Bell, police questioned Morrison after being notified by Fayette County Children and Youth Services that the baby was injured while being cared for by Morrison between 5:30 and 9 p.m. Thursday.

In his affidavit of probable cause, Bell said Morrison was watching Schrock, along with three other children at his North Union Township home Thursday evening.

Bell said Morrison told police that around 8:30 p.m. he fed Schrock her bottle and was later holding the infant when she allegedly vomited.

Bell said Morrison told police he then turned the baby over and she vomited again during which time he noticed the infant was not breathing.

Bell said Morrison told investigators he then shook Schrock “a little” and said, “Come on baby, please wake up, please wake up.”

Morrison told police that Schrock briefly opened her eyes but then closed them, Bell said. He then called Schrock’s mother who told Morrison to call 911, police said.

Officials talked Morrison through cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which he allegedly performed on the child, Bell said.

Schrock’s mother and Uniontown Firemen’s Ambulance officials arrived soon after, Bell said.

Schrock was initially taken to Uniontown Hospital before being moved to Children’s Hospital.

Bell said Children’s Hospital physician Dr. Rachel Burger said “there is absolutely no way that the victim’s injuries were caused by a little shake as the defendant stated,” and said the child had suffered an extremely violent assault.

A CT scan of Schrock’s head conducted at Children’s Hospital revealed hemorrhaging, bleeding and brain damage as well as abdominal bruising, Bell said, and officials said prior to Schrock’s death that the injuries were life threatening, calling her prognosis “grave.”

Fayette County District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon said that the Allegheny County Medical Examiner is awaiting all test results before ruling a cause and manner in Schrock’s death.

“We have to rule out any other causes of death which would show this is a natural death,” Vernon said Monday. “If it comes back shaken baby, there will be homicide charges filed.”

Morrison was placed in Fayette County Prison on $100,000 straight cash bond.

A preliminary hearing on the assault charges is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday before Dennis.