An Allentown man now is facing a murder charge after allegedly shaking his infant son in 2012, which authorities say later contributed to the boy’s death last year.
Kyle T. Hinkle, 38, formerly of Bensalem, initially was charged in 2012 with felony aggravated assault, felony child endangerment and misdemeanor simple assault. Charges were upgraded on Monday to include felony murder.
Hinkle in 2012 pleaded guilty to the initial charges and was sentenced to two years at the Bucks County jail and released.
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office announced the new charge Monday. Hinkle was arrested Monday at his workplace in Allentown on the new charge by Bensalem Township police, with assistance from Allentown officers.
He was arraigned on the murder charge before District Judge Michael W. Gallagher, who set bail at 10% of $2 million. In lieu of bail, he was then taken to the Bucks County jail.
No attorney information was immediately listed in court records representing Hinkle.
The DA’s Office said the infant on Oct. 12, 2012 was taken to then Aria Torresdale Hospital in Philadelphia, where physicians diagnosed the boy with brain bleeding and retinal hemorrhages. A CAT scan revealed both new and old injuries in various stages of healing, authorities said.
Hinkle in an interview with investigators allegedly admitted to shaking the infant multiple times that morning because the child wouldn’t stop crying.
Bensalem Township police on Aug. 14, 2024 learned the child, now age 11, died. An autopsy determined the death was caused by complications of blunt force trauma to the boy’s head and neck resulting from the 2012 abuse, the DA’s Office said.
Hinkle is due back in court for a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Dec. 2 before Gallagher. A judge will then determine if there’s sufficient evidence to send the case toward trial at the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.