Texas man admits giving his daughter gas
The mother says she was not home when her daughter’s father allegedly gave her gasoline, but she came home shortly afterward. “I asked him, ‘Why does my house smell like gasoline?'”
PARIS, Texas – According to police in northeast Texas, a father has confessed to pouring gasoline into his young daughter’s mouth.
Edgar James Bridgemon of Paris, Texas, is now charged with attempted capital crimes. The baby is currently recovering at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.
The 24-year-old is now accused of attempted murder after he fed his four-month-old daughter gasoline in an attempt to kill her last Saturday, according to police.
First, the police received a call from the infant’s mother.
“He presented the child to the officers and said that the father had indeed given the child gasoline to drink,” said Paris police captain Terry Bull. “The child was breathing. The child was awake and crying.”
According to police, Bridgemon is the biological father of the infant, but does not live with the child or his mother.
Bridgemon was at home when police arrived and briefly attempted to flee before turning himself in and admitting to the crime, police said.
“It turns out that this man had actually given his child gasoline with the intent to harm him,” Bull said. “The reason we were able to arrest him at all at that time was because of his confession.”
Police declined to comment on Bridgemon’s motive.
However, the child’s mother, who wished to remain anonymous, told FOX 4 that it may be because she did not want to have a relationship with Bridgemon. However, the child’s mother says she allowed Bridgemon to visit her baby freely.
“It’s awful,” she said. “I don’t think I can ever trust my children with anyone again.”
The mother said she was not home when Bridgemon allegedly gave her daughter gasoline, but returned home shortly afterward.
“And then I asked him, ‘Why does it smell like gas? Why does my house smell like gas?'” she said.
The little girl is being treated at the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas and her condition is improving.
“I just want my baby to come home. I want to hold him in my arms again,” the mother said. “It breaks my heart, it really does.”
Paris police say Bridgemon has been cooperative and has completed at least two interviews with investigators. He is being held in the Lamar County Jail on $250,000 bail.
