Dad Suffocated Toddler Who Interrupted His Video Game

Dad Suffocated Toddler Who Interrupted His Video Game
|

A dad smothered his toddler son to death after the little boy interrupted his video game session with a tantrum.

Kenneth L. Adams, from Mason City, Iowa, was found guilty of child endangerment resulting in the death of his 18-month-old son Owen in October last year.

Prosecutors alleged the toddler head-butted his father during a tantrum, who then held a pillow over his son's face until he suffocated.

The boy was rushed to hospital. Adams now faces a mandatory sentence of 50 years in prison.

Assistant Cerro Gordo County Attorney Blake Norman said Adams enjoyed reading and was consumed by video games. He said Adams put his son face down on a pillow because he was eager to return to a video game.

"He wanted Owen to shut up. He wanted to get back to what he wanted to do - playing video games - and he can't do that with a screaming child," said Mr Norman.

But defence attorney Susan Flander said that Adams didn't cause his son's death. "He's responsible because he was there, not because of what he did," she said.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 8.