A Worcester father is speaking out after police say his son was nearly beaten to death by his uncle.
Taj McDonald is accused of assaulting his 3-year-old nephew. He appeared in court Friday and was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing.
Police responded to an apartment at Lincoln Village on Country Club Boulevard after McDonald called police and said he had just killed his 3-year-old nephew.
Police found the boy injured, with trauma to the face and neck area, but conscious and alert, sitting on the couch.
“I just rushed from work straight to him as fast i could get there,” his father Ari McDonald said.
Ari McDonald said he had his younger brother babysit the child while he was at work Thursday, something he does often.
“We grew up together so of course you would trust your siblings,” McDonald said.
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He came home to find police who told him his brother had assaulted his son multiple times.
Court documents revealed McDonald allegedly tried to drown the child in the bathtub, hit him over the head with a table, and strangle the child with his hands.
McDonald was charged with numerous crimes including two Counts of Attempted Murder, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon and Strangulation.
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families is investigating.
The child is in stable condition.
McDonald will be under supervision at Bridgewater State Hospital due to mental health issues.
