Former Maine man charged in son’s death

OWENSBORO, Ky. – A Daviess County man has been charged with murder in the death of his 6-month-old son, authorities said. Robert Michael Bednarski, 38, of Owensboro was arrested Tuesday after a four-month investigation, Sheriff Keith Cane said.

Bednarski is accused of placing a blanket and king-size pillow over the face of Josiah Bednarski on March 19 to stop the baby from crying, Daviess County Coroner Bob Howe said. The death was ruled suffocation due to homicide.

“This appeared to be a perfectly healthy baby,” Howe said. “Through investigation we found out there had been another death of an infant when Bednarski had a different wife in another state,” the coroner said. “The death in Arkansas was ruled a sudden infant death syndrome victim in 1993.”

Bednarski had four other children removed from his custody in Maine, Howe said. “He was charged in Maine with child abuse,” Howe said.

Bednarski was being held on $100,000 cash bond pending an appearance before District Judge Joe Castlen Wednesday afternoon, Cane said.