HUNTINGTON, IN – The tragic death of a newborn in Huntington has stunned the Indiana community, as investigators allege a months-old baby was brutally abused at the hands of his own father. Oliver Clayton Lee Young, 24, now faces grave criminal charges after an investigation that unearthed harrowing details and a haunting digital trail.
Authorities became aware of the case on October 17, 2025, when a social worker contacted Huntington police with fears of possible child abuse. The call came after a pediatrician at a routine checkup urged the baby’s parents to bring him to the emergency room, disturbed by a deep bruise on the infant’s back and a blood spot in the eye—injuries the mother attempted to explain away, but which medics found deeply troubling for a baby only weeks old.
Hospital staff at Parkview Huntington quickly determined that the child’s injuries were unlikely to be accidental, prompting a transfer to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. There, further examinations revealed the infant had suffered a brain bleed, leaving his condition critical.
Providers initially questioned the cause of the bruise on the child’s back. As hospitalization continued, staff noticed the mark faded, later identifying it as a Mongolian spot—a benign birthmark, a rare glimmer of non-malignancy in the boy’s suffering.
The saga took a devastating turn less than two weeks later. On October 29, medics rushed once more to the child’s home following a frantic 911 call from the mother. The young boy was found unresponsive, and hospital staff reported catastrophic injuries: severe head trauma, extensive internal bleeding, and almost total loss of brain activity. He was airlifted for advanced care, but further scans revealed mounting evidence of chronic abuse. Doctors discovered fractured ribs and a healing femur, injuries consistent with repeated, forceful trauma.
Medical officials concluded the extent of the baby’s injuries could not be accidental, saying the damage was likely the result of violent shaking or crushing force. An autopsy later determined that the little boy’s cause of death was craniocerebral trauma, ruling the case a homicide.
As police pieced together the events of that harrowing morning, a witness inside the family’s home told officers she overheard Young shout at the crying infant to “shut the f— up.” The witness detailed hearing muffled sobs as Young repeatedly took the baby into the bathroom, a chilling routine that occurred multiple times the day the child was found unresponsive.
The investigation also turned to Young’s digital footprint. Forensic searches on his phone uncovered troubling Google activity: on the morning of the baby’s final hospitalization, Young was reportedly reading advice forum entries for first-time prison inmates facing decades behind bars. Days later, police say he scoured the internet for tips to cheat polygraph exams. Evidence suggested Young had deliberately wiped earlier searches from his device.
Young has been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, aggravated battery of a person under 14, and domestic battery leading to serious bodily injury. As of Wednesday, he remains held in Huntington County Jail on a $150,000 bond. Court records indicate his next pretrial conference is scheduled for April 6.
In the wake of the infant’s tragic death, law enforcement and medical professionals continue their efforts to ensure that justice is served. No further information regarding the roles of other household members has been disclosed at this time.