Nation : Child Smothered; 310-Lb. Man Held
READING, Pa. — A 310-pound man was arrested and charged in the death of his 14-month-old son, who police say was smothered while his father slept in the same bed with him.
Franklin H. Strause, 23, was arraigned in Reading District Court on charges of criminal homicide, involuntary manslaughter, unlawful restraint, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child. According to court documents, Strause admitted to police that he had smoked cocaine for three days before going to sleep for 12 hours on Dec. 23. He said he awoke to find his son, Zachary, lying face down and immobile and could not revive him.
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