Father faces murder charges for abusing his daughter decades ago

<p>A father, imprisoned for abusing his daughter during infancy decades ago, is under arrest in Georgia and faces a murder charge for her death because authorities say she died from injuries suffered as a baby.</p><p>An autopsy found Christina Marie Welch, 19, died in March from complications due to injuries she suffered as an infant. On Tuesday, a grand jury indictment charged Christopher Michael Wells, 39, with first-degree murder in her death.</p><p>Wells turned himself in Thursday to authorities in Monticello, Ga. He was being held without bond.</p><p>It was not immediately known if he had an attorney. Authorities in Georgia said they will extradite Wells back to Florida.</p><p>In 1989, Wells and his wife were sent to prison for abusing 2-month-old Christina in October 1986. The baby was brain-damaged and partially blind. She was raised by an adoptive mother.</p><p>According an arrest affidavit, Wells told the girl's adoptive mother in 2005 that "he alone was responsible for the injuries to Christina."</p><p>Prosecutors said Wells can face murder charges despite his 1989 aggravated child abuse conviction because Christina's death this year constitutes a new crime.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/10/114461