APPLETON, WI – Prosecutors in Outagamie County have charged a 35-year-old man with multiple felonies after his newborn son was hospitalized with severe and life-threatening injuries believed to be a result of ongoing abuse.
William Paul Page was arrested on Monday and is facing charges including child abuse by repeated acts causing great bodily harm and strangulation or suffocation. The charges come after medical professionals allegedly discovered a series of alarming injuries to a 6-week-old infant, including broken femurs, seven fractured ribs, and a host of other traumas.
The investigation began after the infant’s mother brought her child to a local hospital on September 29 for treatment of injuries to the boy’s mouth. Hospital staff evaluating the infant found additional injuries that prompted a call to law enforcement. During discussions with authorities, the mother told police she had witnessed Page violently strike the child during what she described as one of his “angry outbursts” about a week prior.
Medical examinations revealed the extent of the baby’s injuries, which included broken leg bones, a fractured clavicle, rib fractures, chest contusions, and hemorrhaging in both eyes. Hospital staff described the child’s injuries as significant and near-fatal, emphasizing the urgency of the case.
According to police records, Page admitted during questioning that he struggled with anger management. He told investigators he had a pattern of taking out his frustrations on objects in the home, such as walls and doors, but also acknowledged the baby’s persistent crying due to colic aggravated his emotions further.
Page is alleged to have confessed to slapping the infant and squeezing him so tightly the child would occasionally go limp. During interviews, Page estimated such incidents occurred “once every four or five times” when trying to calm his son. He further acknowledged to detectives that his actions could have caused the death of his child, conceding that, while he did not intend to commit such harm, it was “possible” the baby could have died.
Court documents indicate Page appeared at an initial hearing Thursday, where an Outagamie County Circuit Judge ordered him held on a $100,000 cash-only bond, citing the “significant” nature of the baby’s injuries and the severity of the allegations.
The county’s district attorney emphasized the gravity of the situation during proceedings, noting the extremely young age of the victim and the extensive scope of his injuries. Officials expressed relief that the abuse did not result in a fatality and stated the charges were necessary to safeguard the child and the broader community.
As of Friday, Page remains in custody at the Outagamie County Jail, with his next court appearance scheduled for October 23. Authorities continue to investigate the case and have not released further information about the welfare and current condition of the infant.
No attorney information for Page was immediately available. The child has reportedly been placed under medical care, and child protective services are involved in the ongoing investigation.