Kandiyohi County dismisses charge in shaken baby case
WILLMAR -- The Kandiyohi County Attorney's office has dismissed charges against Travis Dean Ryks, 25, of Willmar in an alleged shaken baby case, the office announced this afternoon.
Ryks was to have appeared for a hearing in district court tomorrow. A trial on the first degree assault charge filed against him in March was scheduled to begin Aug. 15.
He was charged for allegedly shaking a 2-month-old baby and inflicting a traumatic brain injury.
The injuries to the child were significant and may result in lifelong deficits for the child, according to the County Attorney's office.
"Unfortunately, after consultation with the two foremost experts in the medical field of child abuse in the State of Minnesota, it was determined that the state was unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the injuries to the child were caused by Mr. Ryks during the time frame that he was alone with the child,'' the county attorney's office stated.
Although Ryks will not be convicted, his parental rights were terminated to the infant child and he lost custody of two other children following this incident, according to the county.
