Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist requested a 72-hour hold on Thomas Randle Babler, 26, who was arrested by Pierce County Sheriff’s detectives for the assault of a 1-year-old girl in Parkland. Babler appeared in Superior Court today and is being held on $500,000 bail.

“This is an ongoing investigation that includes medical reports,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “At this point, it’s apparent the defendant lost his temper and brutally beat the child. His story that she was injured by falling off the couch is preposterous.”

On Jan. 20, 2015, Babler was babysitting his girlfriend’s daughter while the mother was at school. Babler sent the mother a message that the victim had fallen off the couch and hit her head. When the mother returned home, she told Babler she was taking the child to the hospital. He objected. The baby began to cry and Babler said, “Don’t make me throw you again.”

Hospital staff determined the victim suffered a complex skull fracture, internal cranial bleeding, elevated liver enzymes and multiple bruises. Preliminary tests also showed signs of possible sexual assault.