Man jailed after striking boy in throat, injuring pancreas

BENTON -- A Scott City man is in jail after striking and grabbing a 7-year-old boy by the throat.

Travis W. Eaker, 27, charged with first degree domestic assault and endangering the welfare of a child, is in the Scott County Jail after inflicting serious injuries to the son of his live-in girlfriend, according to a Scott County Sheriff's Department news release.

Eaker is accused of grabbing the boy by the throat during an incident at the residence in Scott City on May 7 and striking him around the right ear causing severe bruising and swelling, and then striking him in the stomach with such force that it lacerated the child's pancreas. The child is currently recovering in a St. Louis hospital.

Scott County authorities were notified of the incident earlier this week when contacted by Division of Family Service case workers.

Sheriff's Department Det. Gregg Ourth arrested Eaker following initial interviews on the matter, obtaining charges for endangering the welfare of a child. Ourth then traveled to St. Louis Thursday and interviewed the victim, which resulted in the second charge of first degree domestic assault being filed.

"A crime of this viciousness deserves our very best investigative effort and the victim received this from Det. Ourth," Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said. Bond for Eaker was set Thursday by Judge David C. Mann at $525,000.