Father charged with murder in Apple Valley infant abuse case
Published 8:17 am Friday, August 24, 2018
APPLE VALLEY— A Minnesota man has been charged with murder after authorities say he inflicted life-threatening injuries on his newborn son, who later died.
Thirty-two-year-old Michael Herkal of Burnsville was charged Thursday with three counts of second-degree murder in connection with the Aug. 14 death of Anthony, who was just two weeks old when he was injured in Apple Valley.
Herkal was initially charged last week with assault. His attorney did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.
A criminal complaint says Anthony was 13 days old when he was injured on Aug. 12.
He suffered bleeding on the brain and several injuries consistent with physical abuse. He died two days later and an autopsy found he had two skull fractures.