Vincent Zappa (Macomb County Prosecutor”s Office).
A Michigan man faces a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty of inflicting severe injuries on his girlfriend’s 8-month-old son, resulting in a brain bleed.
Vincent Zappa, 26, was convicted in January by a Macomb County jury of first-degree child abuse. On Thursday, Macomb Circuit Judge Joseph Toia sentenced him to a prison term ranging from 18 to 30 years.
The incident took place in late October 2024 at a home in Warren, a prominent suburb of Detroit.
On the day of the incident, Zappa was caring for the infant while his girlfriend was at work. According to a press release from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, Zappa called 911 to report that the baby “was not acting himself.”
Emergency responders rushed the baby to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. Medical staff diagnosed the infant with a severe brain bleed known as an acute subdural hematoma and discovered bruising on his head, neck, and chest.
Following his arrest, Zappa underwent a psychological evaluation to assess his mental state and responsibility for his actions at the Center for Forensic Psychology.
Last month, after several years of pretrial wrangling, Zappa went on trial.
During the two-week trial, the state provided evidence the defendant “caused devastating injuries to the child,” prosecutors announced in a follow-up press release earlier this year.
In addition to the brain bleed and the bruising all over his body, the child suffered “more than 100 retinal hemorrhages in both eyes” and was bleeding “from the mouth” due to the abuse inflicted by Zappa.
Several physicians who treated the victim testified about the severity of the trauma inflicted on the infant, as well as the long-term effects such injuries can have on a child, prosecutors said.
On Jan. 16, deliberations began. Jurors returned the next day and found the defendant guilty as charged, according to Macomb Daily.
“I want to recognize the tireless efforts of law enforcement, the medical professionals who provided lifesaving care and testimony, and the jury for ensuring accountability in this case,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said in a statement. “My office exists to protect the innocent and to speak for children who cannot speak for themselves. We will relentlessly pursue justice against those who abuse and endanger our most vulnerable members of the community.”
In addition to his prison term, Zappa is prohibited from having any contact with the victim or the victim’s family, according to a courtroom report by Detroit-based NBC affiliate WDIV.
The defendant will also be required to register as an offender under Wyatt’s Law, a Wolverine State database for those convicted of crimes against children.
