A Newport man has been arrested in connection to the death of his infant son, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
TBI Special Agents joined the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office in investigating suspected child abuse involving 6-month-old Kasey Rathbone, Jr.
On Dec. 14, the infant was hospitalized. The child’s condition worsened and he died from his injuries on Dec. 16, according to officials.
During the course of the investigation, authorities found evidence that 23-year-old Kasey Rathbone, Sr. inflicted the injuries that resulted in his son’s death, according to officials.
On Jan. 3, the Cocke County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Rathbone with one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree felony murder, and one count of aggravated child abuse, according to TBI.
The next day, with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Madison County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office, and the Hot Springs Police Department, Rathbone was located and arrested, according to officials.
He was being held in North Carolina on a Fugitive from Justice warrant while awaiting extradition to Tennessee, according to TBI.
The Cocke County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office said that Rathbone was extradited back to Tennessee and was arraigned Monday morning. His next court date is a status hearing on Feb. 26, 2019 before Judge Carter Moore.