UPDATE: Bensalem Police have just announced that Kyle Hinkle, 38, of Allentown, has been charged with third-degree murder in connection with the death of his son, who suffered severe abuse as an infant. The boy, who died in August 2024, was only three months old at the time of the initial abuse in October 2012.
The tragic case has garnered significant attention as authorities confirm that the child died from blunt force trauma to the head and neck, injuries sustained during his infancy. An autopsy revealed that the abuse led to his untimely death, prompting the Bucks County District Attorney to charge Hinkle based on these findings.
The investigation began in 2012 when the Bucks County Department of Children and Youth alerted Bensalem Police after a patient at Aria Torresdale Hospital was diagnosed with life-threatening injuries indicative of abuse. Medical professionals identified bleeding in the brain and retinal hemorrhages, leading to further examinations. A CAT scan displayed old and new injuries in various healing stages, confirming the initial suspicions of abuse.
Hinkle admitted to shaking his infant son multiple times in a moment of frustration due to the child’s crying, failing to support the baby’s head during the incident. He previously pleaded guilty to charges of Aggravated Assault, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Simple Assault, resulting in a two-year prison sentence followed by three years of supervised parole.
Following the recent autopsy results, which directly linked the child’s death to the abuse he suffered years earlier, the Bucks County District Attorney’s office issued a warrant for Hinkle’s arrest. On Monday, he was taken into custody at his workplace, with the aid of Allentown Police.
Hinkle has been arraigned and is currently held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility on a bail set at 10% of $2,000,000. This developing story highlights the urgent need for awareness around child abuse and its long-lasting effects.
As this case unfolds, the community and officials are calling for justice for the victim. More updates will follow as authorities continue their investigation into this heartbreaking situation.
