LANSING, Mich. — Daniel Charles Gracer, a 31-year-old man from Lansing, was arraigned on child abuse charges today after allegedly causing near-fatal injuries to his 2-month-old son. Gracer is currently being held on a $1 million bond set by Magistrate Lewis Langham in the 52-1st District Court in Novi. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call from a home in the 7000 block of Meadow Lane in Springfield Township, where an infant was reported to be unresponsive. Gracer was the only person responsible for the child’s care at the time of the incident.
The infant was initially taken to a nearby hospital, then transferred to another facility due to the severity of head and brain trauma. Medical experts at the hospital determined that the injuries were “non-accidental” and consistent with shaking, which caused rapid acceleration and deceleration of the child’s brain. This kind of trauma, commonly associated with shaken baby syndrome, is believed to have nearly killed the infant and may result in delayed brain development.
A child abuse specialist at the hospital confirmed the nature of the injuries, adding that the child’s condition was critical at the time of evaluation.
Gracer was arrested Friday by the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team after an investigation into the incident. He is scheduled to appear for a probable cause conference on February 18 in Clarkston.
The case has raised concerns over the safety of vulnerable children and is expected to remain under close scrutiny as it progresses through the court system. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to come forward.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details about the investigation, and it is unclear whether Gracer has retained legal counsel at this time.
