Father was charged with baseball bats because of murder in the death of the 12-year-old son

A man from Connecticut was charged with murder after the police said he had killed his 12-year-old son with a baseball bat.

The Branford police authority arrested Anthony Andrew Esposito Jr., 52, on May 2 in the death of 12-year-old Anthony P. Esposito, the department announced in a press release. He was charged with murder in the death of his son and the attempted murder of another family member.

Esposito's public defender said in court that his client had psychological problems that have been untreated for decades, WTNH-TV reported without naming the lawyer.

USA TODAY could not immediately identify or reach the Esposito lawyer on Monday.

Police report shocking crimes

In a police report received by WTNH-TV, Esposito told the police that his son was “often disrespectful towards him, put his middle finger on the face and told him (explosively).”

Esposito told the police that the voices in his head of his mother and father told him that he should not let his son disrespectfully get away, the report says.

The police report also said that Esposito pushed his 16-year-old daughter down the stairs after asking where her brother was. She fled out of the house, the report said.

An “unimaginable emptiness”

A gofundme furnished in memory of Anthony P. Esposito said that the 12-year-old was a “friendly soul”.

“His smile, his laughter and his friendly soul brought warm our life, and his absence leaves an unimaginable emptiness,” said the fundraiser. “No family should have to face such a loss – just the financial burden to put a child to rest.”

Matthew Edgar, a friend of Anthony, told WTNH-TV that the boy was friendly.

“He was always happy and always wanted to play with his friends,” he said. “We played with him in the pool all the time.”

In a statement by NBC Connecticut, the superintendent of Branford Public Schools, Dr. Christopher Tranberg that the child is a sixth grade student at the Walsh Intermediate School.

“In the name of the Branford Public Schools, we extend our deepest condolences to family, friends and all those affected by this unimaginable tragedy,” he said. “Our hearts are with you in this incredibly difficult time.”

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trendy news reporter for USA Today. Reach it at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow it on x @fernn_cerv_.

This article originally appeared in USA today: Father, who was charged with baseball bats in the death of the 12-year-old son